Village Voice critic Robert Christgau praised the album, calling it "concept album of the year".
Robert Christgau said the album is "Not as tuneful as some might wish" but is nonetheless "Even better than the debut".
An early mention of the term comes from critic Robert Christgau, who referred to Carlos Santana's music from the 1970s as "Latin-metal pop," making it a possible forerunner in the genre.
The song was listed at number seven on the 2001 Pazz & Jop list, a survey of several hundred music critics conducted by Robert Christgau.
A member of the band Jane Aire and the Belvederes, Sternberg produced an Akron compilation album for Stiff Records which garnered the attention of rock critic Robert Christgau and brought national attention to the scene.
At the time of its release, Robert Christgau wrote that side two of the double album "contains the finest rock improvisation ever recorded."
Robert Christgau described their last album as "basically unlistenable unless you grant it your full attention".
Robert Christgau identified the mid-1990s NWONW movement as the peak of a new wave revival that has continued on and off since, stating "1994 was the top of a curve we can't be certain we've reached the bottom of".
Rhino Entertainment released Hit by a Train: The Best of Old 97's, an eighteen track compilation of songs from the band's beginnings through 2001, featuring liner notes and an essay by rock critic Robert Christgau.
Only Robert Christgau in the Village Voice praised it in public, calling it "important if not terribly good".
Robert Christgau gave a positive review on the album as well as the song, saying "The devilishly memorable "Won't Go Home Without You" combines confidence with affection rather than macho." Channel 4 called the song "the musical equivalent of a dog's fart at the dinner table" and gave it just one star out of a possible ten.
The release of President Yo La Tengo in 1989 did much to establish the band's reputation among rock critics including Robert Christgau who praised the "mysterioso guitar hook" in the first song titled "Barnaby, Hardly Working".
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In a contemporary review for Creem magazine, music critic Robert Christgau gave the album an "A–" and said that, although side one sides like cluttered free jazz at first, it is highlighted by the Ornette Coleman-like playing of saxophonist Dewey Redman.
Sommer wrote for the Village Voice between 1980 and 1984 and worked closely with music editor Robert Christgau; according to journalist Michael Azerrad in his book Our Band Could Be Your Life, Sommer was the inspiration for the lyrics of the Sonic Youth anthem "Kill Yr Idols," in which Thurston Moore questioned his friend Sommer's respect for Christgau.