[1] Ken Tucker of Entertainment Weekly called Slipstream a"superb...mix of rock, blues, folk, and funk" and "The singer's best album since 1975's underrated Home Plate.

"[3] The Columbus Dispatch noted "Slipstream does represent a split decision, between the quiet anguish of the Joe Henry-produced tracks and the rockers written by Al Anderson and other bluesy compatriots.

Losing her parents, brother and a best friend has left the veteran blues/soul rocker with plenty to think about—and that pensiveness colors Slipstream with knowing acceptance, nuanced takes on loss and a grace that finds splendor in the raw places.

"[8] Thom Jurek of Allmusic wrote "There are a few lesser moments, but they don't distract; Slipstream reveals Raitt at another creative peak.

"[2] Simon Gage of the Daily Express declared "this eclectic album, her first in seven years..touches on blues, reggae, old-school soul and rock....The voice is as loaded with emotion as ever and the songs of the highest calibre with work by Bob Dylan and Loudon Wainwright III among them.

With the magazine remarking "As young stars like Adele and Katy Perry cover her songs, Raitt continues what she’s been doing, more or less, for 40-plus years: Pick a bunch of smart, tender tunes by great writers (Slipstream includes a pair by Bob Dylan), add one or two of her own, and sing them in a soulful ache, dotted by her casual slideguitar punctuations.."[17] Slipstream also won for the Grammy for Best Americana Album at the 2013 Grammy Awards.