[1][2][3] Producer and journalist George Graham wrote: "On The Calling the band continues to shows its Southern rock roots throughout... With the re-emergence of The A-R-U we have the return of an outstanding group who last appeared before there was much of a contemporary jam band scene.

"[4] In a review for The Aspen Times, Stewart Oksenhorn stated: "It's hard to evaluate The Calling without comparing it to the albums with the original lineup.

"[5] Jesse Jarnow of Jambands.com called the album "a pale, pale shadow of what the band once represented," and commented: "Instead of reveling in it, the music now only borders on the abstract, instead favoring an adult contemporary liteness that is so far in that I'm almost willing to accept it as a big joke... What's missing, conceptually, is the band's triumphant sense of playfulness."

However, he acknowledged that "it's always a joy to hear Jimmy Herring and Oteil Burbridge play music together.

"[6] A reviewer for ProGGnosis described the album as "a funky, soulful, r&b centered mix, with some slants towards fusion and jam rock," and remarked: "for those that enjoy a sincere, downhome, Southern r&b feel, with vocal oriented songs, paired with members that just happens to have the credentials to be a hot fusion band, a band that rears that venom from time to time, this is a great cd!