Subsequent retrospective reviews of the album have also been highly favourable. Jason Ankeny of AllMusic described "Steve McQueen" as "a minor classic, a shimmering jazz-pop masterpiece sparked by Paddy McAloon's witty and inventive songwriting". Alex Robertson of Sputnikmusic praised it as "a nearly flawless convergence of gorgeous, smart pop songwriting and immediately pleasurable production that divides itself into eleven songs that are both distinct and also separated by a common thread of excellence". "Q"s Gareth Grundy called "Steve McQueen" the most succinct expression of McAloon's skills as a songwriter, while Will Hermes, writing in "Spin", described the album as "elegant" and found it to be Dolby's supreme achievement as a producer.