[1] Edna Gundersen of USA Today wrote, "Silver Lining, produced by Mitchell Froom and Tchad Blake, showcases Raitt's knack for pop elegance in such tunes as the title track (by David Gray) and aching ballad Wounded Heart.

But it also proves Raitt isn't afraid to get a little Delta mud under her fingernails in pursuit of pure funk and earthy grooves.

"[10] Jason MacNeil of PopMatters proclaimed "While it doesn’t contain the radio friendly tracks of past classics like “Thing Called Love” or “Something To Talk About”, the album as a whole is definitely one of her strongest to date.“[6] Natalie Nichols of Los Angeles Times claimed "Raitt continues to explore common threads in music across cultures with her 16th album.

Yet "Silver Lining" is no academic exercise, but a varied collection incorporating her trademark Delta-influenced blues-rock, African styles, New Orleans boogie and modern adult-pop elements.

"[5] What's more two songs from Silver Lining, Gnawin' On It and Time of Our Lives, earned Grammy nominations in the category of Best Female Rock Vocal Performance.