James Bernard of the American Entertainment Weekly summarised: "This British belter slows it down on her fourth solo release Essex with plenty of guitar strumming, soothing harmonies, and bare-handed percussion. While she displays impressive range - it's not particularly distinctive. Essex may be elegant, but it lacks emotional weight."
American Entertainment Weekly critic James Bernard observed: "The British singer takes a more subdued approach on her fourth solo album Essex, marked by prominent guitar work, soothing vocals, and simple percussion. Although she displays impressive vocal range - it's not particularly memorable. The overall effect is elegant but emotionally unengaging."