Robert Palmer of "The New York Times" wrote that "remarkably, "Tattoo You" is something special...None of tracks are Chuck Berry retreads, none of them are disco, and none of them are reggae - they are all rock-and-roll, with more than a hint of the soul and blues influences that were so important in the band's early work...The new album's lyrics are also a surprise. The Stones seem to have dropped the studied decadence that was their most characteristic pose throughout the 70's. The songs on "Tattoo You" seem to be by and about real people rather than larger-than-life caricatures."