[2] AllMusic review Ralph Heibutzki suggested listeners should "imagine classic punk maneuvers crossed with Nirvana- and Dinosaur Jr.-style leanings, goosed by a bolt of Mega City Four".

[3] Author Dave Thompson wrote in his book Alternative Rock (2000): "A hint of Brit-pop savvy, a dash of older Indy-American fuzz, beaten and blended into something which cites The Buzzcocks as an influence, but can also sound like Black Sabbath.

[5] Heibutzki said "Jack Names the Planets", alongside the bonus track "Punk Boy", "could give Green Day a run for its pop-punk roses".

[3] "Uncle Pat" details an exploration to a grave site via woods; Chris Molanphy, writing in CMJ New Music Monthly, remarked that the group "shows admirable restraint by pulling back the feedback at key points and letting the pretty notes ring out.

[3] Kayley Kravitz of Vanyaland said the chorus section, which includes elements of doo-wop, serves as a "stark contrast to a song that is otherwise about the annihilation of planet Earth by alien lifeforms.

Heibutzki praised Wheeler's "relentlessly catchy confections" for "stand[ing] up to the Britpop vanguard's finest hours", and mentioned that the band "emphasizes stripped-down velocity over finesse.

Scott Hefflon of Lollipop Magazine wrote: "Starting with a pleasant pop/punk formula similar to the Buzzcocks and adding a flavoring of Dino Jr-esque guitar noise, Ireland’s Ash are a band on the move.

"[2] CMJ New Music Report's Cherly Botchick wrote that despite the band's geographical origins, Trailer "couldn't be more steeped in delightfully familiar American rock traditions.

"[18] Molanphy said "for all the (not unfounded) comparisons Ash has drawn to the Buzzcocks, its better numbers ... display a formidable talent for weaving hummable tunes and picaresque lyrics in the sonic assault.