"The Observer" also commented on the album's change in direction, commenting that the band had "turned its back on the mainstream" and that the album was "uneasy and brooding" and "gripping stuff". "Rolling Stone" gave the album four stars for the first time since the band's self titled debut, commenting that ""Era Vulgaris" is Homme's fifth Queens album, and like the others, it's intricately crafted, meticulously polished and ruthlessly efficient in its pursuit of depraved rock thrills." Critic Jon Pareles of "The New York Times" selected the album as the tenth best release of 2007.