Rolling Stone (p.79) - 3.5 stars out of 5 -- "[T]he duo deliver with their most dynamic set yet, with hot Irish soul segueing into energetic folk rock and dream-pop-touched balladry."
Spin (p.84) - "STRICT JOY is a glorious bummer....Heartache swells from these swooning folk-pop tunes..."
Entertainment Weekly - "Hansard saves some rage for 'Feeling the Pull,' which suggests the best love songs come from those who don't believe in them anymore." -- Grade: B
Alternative Press (p.117) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "The songs are mostly straightforward piano-and-acoustic guitar, perfectly punctuated by strings and horns. The showcase, though, is Hansard and Irglova's intertwining vocals."
CMJ - "[E]verything here is tightly constructed and not too showy; Hansard in particular shines on the sorrowful ballad 'Rain'..."
Billboard (p.32) - "The lyrics continue to center on relationships, providing a raw and emotionally charged narrative to songs that are sonically more integrated and refined than on the group's debut."