[2] As the album was nearing completion, Clark and producer Jay Joyce made a conscious effort to avoid country music cliches, using experimental musicians and strings to make sounds unlike her previous work; the singer had anxiety about if Warner Records could successfully market it past the tepid reception to her 2016 album Big Day in a Small Town.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Clark decided to release a deluxe edition of the album that included older recordings, a brief live performance for MusiCares, and the new composition "Remember Me Beautiful".

[10] A more mixed review came from Pitchfork's Sam Sodomsky, rating the album 7.5 out of 10, praising innovative arrangements and incisive and clever lyrics that will challenge listeners.

[12] Reviewing the album for Exclaim!, Kyle Mullin gave the release a seven out of 10, noting the same qualities and suggesting that other songwriters will "daydream about following in her footsteps".

[11] Chris Willman of Variety calls Clark as a songwriter "the necessary next stop [after the success of Kacey Musgraves] for anyone joining this program already in progress and finding that Music City is the richest source of fingerpicking female singer-songwriters with crystalline voices, classic twang-pop sensibilities and a knack for sweet devastation" and gives a positive review of this album for its myriad looks at relationships.