[9] The Washington Post wrote that "the music of these studio hermits ... remains as pure and sweet—bittersweet, actually—as such antecedents as the Hollies, the Beau Brummels, and of course the Beatles.

"[11] The Chicago Tribune concluded that "the record celebrates craft rather than quirks, the primacy of melody and harmony rather than dance beats and gimmickry.

"[15] The San Francisco Chronicle opined that "Shoes sounds like classic American heartland rock that won't go away, no matter what.

"[16] The Austin American-Statesman listed the album as the sixth best of 1990 (and the best independent release), describing it as "boy-girl songs with an older-and-wiser edge in a testament to the timelessness of hooks and harmonies.

"[10] The Rolling Stone Album Guide determined that "the group's creamy harmonies, propulsive three-chord riffing and yearning choruses cut as deep as ever.