[8] The Sydney Morning Herald called Swimmin' Pools, Movie Stars... a "slightly urbanised, perfectly played bluegrass album.

"[10] The Morning Star thought that the rendition of "Guitars, Cadillacs" "doesn’t have the impact of the original or the twang, but it has the sway of the fiddles that play off Yoakam’s reverb-laden voice sweetly.

"[11] The Knoxville News Sentinel praised the "A-list players," but concluded that "in the end, Swimmin' Pools, Movie Stars ... feels more like a lovable novelty than a lasting statement.

"[13] AllMusic wrote that "while the notion of Yoakam doing a bluegrass cover of 'Purple Rain' might sound like a high concept hipster joke, he wrings loneliness and loss from that tune with a delivery that's moving without becoming histrionic.

"[9] The Santa Fe New Mexican also praised the cover, writing: "Without a trace of irony he finds the soul of the song and makes it into the perfect hillbilly tribute to the ascended master from Minneapolis.