[1] Reviewing The Fountain for the British music magazine Mojo, Johnny Sharp described the album as "mid-tempo, middle of the road, middle-aged pop-rock".

He described the album as, "Their most accessible offering in a long time sees Ian McCulloch at his most lyrically playful and cocksure, hovering between confessional [...] and mischievous, and firing off one-liners as if it were the band's 80s heyday.

Will Sergeant's guitar-playing is at its scintillating best [...] Their poppiest tunes since 'Bring on the Dancing Horses' could win the Scouse veterans a new generation of fans.

"[3] Writing in the music magazine Q, Garry Mulholland described McCulloch and Sergeant's sound as "remarkably perky" and "rejuvenated by an injection of youth from new rhythm section Simon Perry and David Thomas and pop producer John McLaughlin.

[12] All tracks written by Ian McCulloch, John McLaughlin, Simon Perry, David Thomas, and Will Sergeant, except where noted.