The A.V. Clubs Keith Phipps said that the show favorite ballads were the highlights compared to more uptempo tracks like "No Ruben" and "What Is Sexy", concluding that following in this direction shows that "even the most obviously talented contestant to walk the Idol stage seems fated to be forever a glorified karaoke champ." Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine also found the ballads Studdard performed on the show showcase his strengths more than tracks like "Don't Quit On Me" and "Take the Shot" that are "insufferably repetitive and tuneless", calling the overall record "a painfully predictable mix of traditional R&B glop and comparatively forced contemporary hip-hop."
Keith Phipps, from A.V. Clubs, stated that the show's favorite ballads were superior to more upbeat tracks such as "No Ruben" and "What Is Sexy", suggesting that even the most talented contestant on Idol may only be a successful karaoke performer. Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine also found that Studdard's ballad performances highlighted his strengths better than songs like "Don't Quit On Me" and "Take the Shot," which were deemed overly repetitive and tuneless, describing the overall record as a predictable blend of traditional R&B and forced contemporary hip-hop.