[3] At the Los Angeles Times, Randy Lewis affirmed that Paisley "taking on such hot-button topics as spousal abuse, Southern provincialism, racism and social justice alongside characteristically well-crafted mainstream country fare.

"[7] Bernard Perusse of The Gazette said the album features "catchy melodies, plainspoken lyrics and one man's attempt to transplant contemporary country from its red-state ghetto into the hearts of everyone.

"[8] Taste of Country's Billy Dukes told that "'Wheelhouse' delivers a familiar mix of humor, life lessons and scorching guitar solos, but it does it in a way different from any of the other eight albums the...singer has released," which he evoked how Paisley "took his old formula, balled it up, lit it on fire and tossed the ashes in the garbage".

"[3] On the topic of musical styling, McLennan of The Boston Globe told that "Paisley cooks through honky-tonk, country swing, the blues, rockabilly, and weepy ballads with assured command, topping off each song with at least one memorable line".

[10] Lastly, Bob Paxman of Country Weekly surmised that "with clever splices of sonic experimentation and songs that run from fanciful to downright serious, Wheelhouse seems to stand as Brad's Sgt.

"[12] In agreement, Taste of Country's Dukes said that "seventeen tracks are too many, even if a few are little more than interludes", yet Paisley "earns an extra half star for some daring production," which "a lack of momentum holds back a project that’s full of good ideas spaced apart.

"[16] The songs on the album touches on various aspects such as xenophobia with "Southern Comfort Zone", domestic violence with "Karate", racism with "Accidental Racist" and religion with "Those Crazy Christians".

[2][5] "Southern Comfort Zone" has been described as a "cousins of sorts to his multi-cultural paean 'American Saturday Night'",[6] and the song "preaches the value of travel while masking it in a wistfulness for the familiarity of home.

"[3] "Karate" has been referenced as being like "Martina McBride's 'Independence Day,' the Dixie Chicks' 'Goodbye Earl,' and Miranda Lambert's 'Gunpowder & Lead,'" which because "Mr. Paisley may be the first male singer to approach the subject with such a honed sense of justice" in mind that he "pulls off with grace.

"[2][17] "The Mona Lisa" has been described as "a love song" that was "inspired by a trip to Paris with his wife, actress Kimberly Williams-Paisley, the fast paced track impresses with gritty guitar.

"[20] GAC's Addison claimed that "when the joyous anthem 'Officially Alive' arrives to close the album, the total impact of Wheelhouse is felt with a daring and adventurous collection full of striking emotion to create one of the year’s best releases.

[16] Andy Gill of The Independent stated that "on the excellent Wheelhouse, Brad Paisley tiptoes a fine line between satisfying his core country audience and encouraging them to more adventurous attitudes.

"[6] At Premier Guitar, Shadrick found that "Wheelhouse is Paisley’s most pop-sounding album to date, and with that, makes me wonder how long it will be before that vitamin that you stick in the cupcake disappears completely.

[21] At Rolling Stone, Eddy affirmed that "Brad Paisley's latest is so well meaning it's tempting to forgive how overwrought it is", which is because "two tracks that subject the South to tough love" in "Southern Comfort Zone" and "Accidental Racist" "feel confused".