In a review for AllMusic, Thom Jurek wrote: "Songlines is the finest moment in the Derek Trucks Band's recording career.

It's a fully mature, deeply reckoned studio album that bears repeated listening to reveal all its subtlety and the beauty of its creation.

"[1] Ben Ratliff of The New York Times called Trucks' guitar work "a delicious pleasure," and stated that the album "improves on the five that preceded it," noting that "There's more texture, more layers of sound, and the producer, Jay Joyce, has artfully dirtied it up with reverb and mixing techniques.

"[6] Writing for All About Jazz, Doug Collette commented: "This album completely captures the diverse strengths of the group and its leader... Trucks' deceptively unassuming presence becomes the focal point that inspires his band, elevating Songlines to an absolutely stellar level.

"[2] In an article for JazzTimes, Bill Milkowski wrote: "A remarkably expressive player, Trucks continues to explore on his instrument outside the confines of his regular touring gig with the Allman Brothers.