Billboard's Chris Morris called the album "a striking showcase for her gravel-voiced shouting and fiery axework," and noted that she is being "pegged... as a rising successor to Bonnie Raitt."[6]
Jana Pendragon of AllMusic stated that Tedeschi "slings, aims, and hits her target," and commented: "What a talent! Singer, songwriter, player, performer, and more, the lady from Boston can do it all... A brave heart with spunk and plenty of soul."[1]
Writing for JazzTimes, Bill Milkowski remarked: "She sings and plays with a lot of heart and also demonstrates a talent for songwriting on this strong debut. Yeah, she's real."[7]
Ed Kopp of All About Jazz described the album as "a perfect vehicle for Tedeschi's powerful singing," which, he noted, is "emotionally charged and very engaging."[8]
The Music Box's John Metzger called the album "a truly amazing effort that is full of promise for the future, even as it looks to the past," and wrote: "Tedeschi is the real deal, and... the comparisons to Joplin and Raitt truly are warranted. She approaches songs with the same level of passion, hiding her pain beneath the strength of her voice."[9]