Some reviewers expressed reservations. "Pitchfork" journalist Stuart Berman observed a less provocative style from the New York Dolls, writing that they sounded too humbled and restrained. Greg Kot of the "Chicago Tribune" said the band's new members lacked "personality", while "NME" magazine dismissed the new line-up as "an above-average pub-rock band". Charlotte Robinson from "PopMatters" was confounded by the songwriting and described the album as "an odd little number perched somewhere between being embarrassing Dolls-by-numbers and true to the original band's memory". Leonie Cooper of "The Guardian" found the "beefed-up production and Johansen's more gravelly voice" predictable, although he felt their songwriting had matured.