Due to the low budget for making the album, instead of recording real instrumentals, most of the drum beats were programmed with computer software.

Their initial marketing was grassroots; Joseph's mother would stand outside of Ohio State University, giving away tickets to their shows.

[12] Despite ranking as the lowest of the band's albums in a list for Kerrang!, Emily Carter considered that "the quality of the songwriting here is already superb", praising Joseph's lyrics, and concluded that "these aren't chart-topping bangers, sure, but the impact of these songs cannot be understated".

[15] Maria Sherman of Fuse praised Joseph's "speak-singing" and the "beautiful piano arrangements" on the album, though criticized his enunciation while rapping.

[16] Alternative Press described "Addict with a Pen" as "slow, spare, and nakedly honest" and "the best representation of what initially drew fans to the band".