[7] The Morning Call called the album "an exemplary collection of modern-day Chicago rock," writing that "the strong guitar melodies of Blake Smith and Rick Ness complement their equally intricate vocal melodies, and the tongue-in-cheek approach taken to hint at the horrid keeps the recording fun, never tedious.

"[13] Trouser Press wrote: "Able to conjure up a potent haze of slacker sloth and then obliterate it with a fierce rock assault (see 'It’s Your Ceiling' for a concise demonstration), Fig Dish keeps attitude out of the effort, concentrating on simply effective tunes.

"[7] CMJ New Music Monthly deemed it "a respectably tight-fisted punch of buzzing guitar caterwaul.

"[14] The Chicago Tribune called it "a minor revelation," and praised the "sturdy melodies, concisely and smartly arranged.

"[9] The Washington Post judged That's What Love Songs Often Do to be "lively pop-grunge with more than a touch of Nirvana's swirling feedback and woozy despair.