All of them reveal an iconoclast tilting at windmills, railing at tyrants, barking at masters of war, and celebrating a shameless commitment to the very definition of ‘Americana’."

"[6] Parks named his cover of Billy Edd Wheeler's "Sassafrass" as "outlaw chamber music," elaborating, "I did something heretical in taking his simple song and having my way with it—and deconstructing it intentionally as an 'inquiry' into the song—and hopefully to still celebrate the charm of its author.

"Wall Street" was written as a response to the September 11 attacks, and "Money Is King" is described by Parks as "picking up where it left off," illustrating greed in post-9/11 corporate America.

[2] Parks elected to write additional lyrics for "Money Is King," the original author of which is Trinidadian calypsonian Growling Tiger.

[nb 1] An instrumental recording made with The Esso Trinidad Steel Band is present on the album as "Aquarium": a steelpan version of a composition originally by Camille Saint-Saëns.

[9] Artwork for the album's singles were contributed by a variety of visual artists which include Klaus Voormann, Ed Ruscha, Frank Holmes, and Art Spiegelman.

and adds, "At best Songs Cycled deals in quick-pivot moments…What these moments do-- especially in the context of music so dense and restless-- is frame Parks's range.

In an instant, he reminds you of the extremes he's capable of: Cynicism and tenderness; clear lyricism and manic density; buttoned-up orchestras and dressed-down steel bands."

"[21] Some critics found the album's style abrasive, with Kitty Empire of The Observer writing "Those coming fresh to Parks may find his reedy voice, and his warping of time, requires some adjustment."

The Seattle Post-Intelligencer wrote that "Songs Cycled is a rather sophisticated tour de force, with Parks showing off all his chops as a composer, arranger, producer, performer, lyricist, and, to a lesser degree, singer.