 "The Independent" considered the album to be Gilmore taking "the final step to the forefront of British singer-songwriters, with 12 songs that establish her as the most prolific and intelligent wordsmith of her generation".AllMusic's Hal Horowitz gave it four stars, stating the album saw her "moving a bit closer to the mainstream", also calling the songs "some of her best".Adam Sweeting, for "The Guardian", also gave it four stars, writing that it saw her "blazing her own path towards classic status as a songwriter".