Upon release the album received generally positive reviews. "Rolling Stone" gave the album a positive review (a combined review with its companion album, "Human Touch"), but thought that the aims of the two albums "would have been better realized by a single, more carefully shaped collection." In a mostly positive review, Allmusic said of the album: "While "Human Touch" was a disappointing album of second-rate material, "Lucky Town" is an ambitious collection addressing many of Springsteen's major concerns and moving them forward."