Metacritic gave "4" a generally positive 73 score. The New York Times pointed out that other recording artists could have released some of these songs. "Most of '4,' though, no one else could get away with, or would even want to try." Chris Richards of The Washington Post wrote "It’s also her fourth-best album, as in her worst." The album is "heavy on ballads and midtempo tracks" according to Chicago Tribune critic Greg Kot. 