The New York Times Jon Pareles commented that Stefani "rebooks some of the same producers and repeats some of the old tricks with less flair", adding that "superficiality is more fun when it doesn't get so whiny."
Jon Pareles from The New York Times remarked that Stefani reuses some of the same producers and employs some of her previous strategies, but in a less impressive manner. He also suggested that superficiality is more entertaining when it avoids becoming overly melancholic.