Written by bandmembers Mike Pickering, Paul Heard and Heather Small, and produced by M People, it was released as the album's lead single on 7 November 1994 by Deconstruction.

AllMusic editor William Cooper found that the song has a "grandiose gospel-influenced intro before kicking into the funky groove", noting that the melody is similar to Technotronic's 'Pump Up the Jam'.

[2] Larry Flick from Billboard felt that it "kicks off the set with a rubbery, houserooted bassline, coated with a rolling piano line that is spiced with a tangy salsa twist.

[4] In his weekly UK chart commentary, James Masterton wrote, "Their first new hit single for over a year is in many ways something of a disappointment, albeit one that grows on you gradually.

[6] Alan Jones from Music Week gave it four out of five, adding, "This is a sturdy, bass-heavy house workout, with chiming synth strings and typical piano chords.

"[7] Johnny Dee from NME felt it "is indictive of the new M People, less immediate than of yore", noting that Small "doesn't belt out the chorus as if she was celebrating world peace but with a confidence that she no longer needs to impress".

[9] A.D. Amorosi from The Philadelphia Inquirer stated, "Like Joan Armatrading with a dab of Sarah Vaughn's sassiness, Small imbues the hookdriven 'Sight for Sore Eyes' and 'Drive' with a maturity that gives them sultry heft.

[11] A reviewer from Sarasota Herald-Tribune noted that the singer "delivers each song with the sort of soulful confidence that suggests passion without smothering the melody, an approach that underscores the pop appeal of tunes like 'Sight for Sore Eyes'".

[12] Wayne Bledsoe from Scripps Howard wrote that the band "add astral production flourishes to the comping keyboard that pushes the tune before detouring into a delightful salsa-style interlude."

To incorporate the overall metal theme of the new album, there are cutaways of sparks flying as metalwork is carried out, with mechanics and close-ups of booted-feet dancing to the music.

The E-Smoove Mix became a significant dance club hit but was not made available for general issue until it featured on CD2 of successor single "Open Your Heart" nearly three months later.