Stylistically, Starting Over represented a more aggressive arena rock/hard rock sound than previous albums in a way reminiscent of The Who, which was one of the groups' biggest influences.

thematically and musically" and rated "Overnight Sensation (Hit Record)", "Play On", "I Don't Know What I Want", "I Can Hardly Believe You're Mine" and "Starting Over" as the best cuts.

"[9] Gazette-Mail critic James Carnes noted that all the songs on the album concern life in a rock group.

"[10] Music critic Ron Ross said that "the first side of Starting Over is conceptual in the sense that all the Raspberry writers had been thinking along the same thematic lines in the past year and it seemed smart to sequence the tunes that dealt with their creeping disillusionment.

"[12] Classic Rock History critic Brian Kachejian rated it as the band's 4th best song, noting that the piano riff has some similarities to Elton John's "Tiny Dancer".

[12] In 1975 Marsh described it as "a marvelous ballad, somewhat in the tradition of the Beach Boys but ultimately reminscent, in a contemporary context, of Elton John at his best.

[16] Both Ultimate Classic Rock critic Dave Swanson and Kachejian rated "I Don't Know What I Want" as being among the Raspberries' Top 10 songs.

[13] Edmonton Journal critic Joe Sornberger described it as ""the Raspberry recreation of the Who's unique brand of electric confusion," noting the resemblance to "Won't Get Fooled Again" but also discerning elements from "I Can See for Miles" and "a bunch of other Who melodies and phrases.

[5] Rolling Stone critic Ken Barnes went further, calling it "the ultimate Who tribute, a superbly integrated pastiche of Who styles, 1965-71" and saying that "Fragments of Townshend melodies surface here and there, and Eric Carmen's vocal is an uncanny Roger Daltrey imitation.

It was supposed to be a song to show off [Wally Bryson's] power chords, [Mike McBride's] drumming and the lyrics.

"[15] Guitarist Wally Bryson wrote the song "Party's Over" and said that he included a veiled reference to Smalley and Bonfanti leaving.

"[15] Borack described it as an "autobiographical Free-like stomper" and called it "a storming kiss-off to one of the finest power pop bands ever.

[11] Ross said of it:Scott [McCarl] sings with surprising assurance of the torn fingers and throats endured when you spend "every night in a different bed."

The youthful sexual intensity of "Play On" is underscored by a jangling John Lennon guitar riff countered by a beautifully harmonized chorus that is a ray of idealism bursting through clouds of fatigue.

[11]Sornberger described the single "Cruisin' Music" as a "Beach Boys tribute, an ode to the car radio, surfin' and foolin' around.