"[1] The Boston Globe gave it a positive review and called it "A collection of highly listenable roots-rock tunes that stray little from its longtime formula.

"[10] The New York Times also gave it a positive review and said, "Simple but effective sonic details — a chirpy horn arrangement, a reverse-looped guitar part — prevent “The Search” from feeling either preachy or repetitive.

"[11] Other reviews are pretty average, mixed, or negative: Q gave it three stars out of five and said it "revisits the social commentary of Farrar's old band.

"[1] Alternative Press, however, gave it two-and-a-half stars out of five and said that the album "lacks the spark of the band's classic catalog material.

"[1] Blender gave it one-and-a-half stars out of five and stated: "The saggy country-rock complaints about corporatization and alienation [Farrar] offers... sound like submissions to an Air America poetry contest.