[1] Upon its release, The Guardian wrote, "Suppose Bono had been Pat Benatar and assuming she was in Dublin at the time, might something like this have been the result?

As a follow-up to their successful [debut] album, River City People offer This Is the World, and quite clearly a couple of years on the road have given them a new confidence and sharper edge.

"[2] Hi-Fi News & Record Review commented, "The band's second release shows more bite than the far lighter debut, but it's no less melodic.

She noted Maher's "strong, sensual voice" but felt the album was overproduced in "true Corporate Rock fashion" with "over-cooked arrangements".

She praised the track "Hurt You" for how it "swoons and sulks with a sheet-rumpling kind of elegance" and added, "More of this, and the River City People could merit some excessive admiration.