[4] The album includes songs by the label's first signees Cold Water Flat[5] and studio silent partner Billy Bragg.

[7] Cashbox's Steve Baltin called the album an "impressive compilation" with an "attention-grabbing" opening track from Cold Water Flat and further strong showings from the Walkabouts, Buffalo Tom, and Treat Her Right.

[6] The Heights' Brian J. DiMattia called the album "Boston indie rock at its best" which would have warranted a four-star rating if not for the record coming in poor packaging docking it half a star.

[9] AllMusic's Jonathan Lewis also noted Treat Her Right as a highlight, as well as Radiohead and Billy Bragg, while calling the work of other acts "standard".

Lewis concluded that while the album features several "heavyweights" of early 1990s alt rock, it's the "lesser-known artists who manage to shine through.