Rolling Stone (p.74) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "[H]ypnotic alt-country twang, with reverb-slathered guitars ringing out over music box plinks and moaning cellos."

Spin (p.32) - Ranked #15 in Spin's "40 Best Albums Of 2009" -- "Behind the heat, there's real soul."

Entertainment Weekly (p.73) - "[A] pleasantly swirling strum and twang of guitars, gentle percussion, and That Voice." -- Grade: B

Alternative Press (p.134) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "'People Got A Lotta Nerve' is all animal magnetism with a big, chirping chorus, exercising her bright range. 'Marais La Nuit' ends the record with 40 minutes of the sounds of a marsh at night."

Mojo (Publisher) (p.110) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "Case is an intriguing writer and coolly commanding singer who delivers every syllable without flaw in pitch, timbre and phrasing."

Blender (Magazine) (p.59) - 3.5 stars out of 5 -- "With the help of a frog chorus and an 'orchestra' of six derelict pianos, plus melodic populism, spaghetti-Western riffs and jokes, she's made a record about ecology and love..."

Pitchfork (Website) - "Her voice can knock you over -- it's one of the strongest in any genre....MIDDLE CYCLONE is another strong entry....A culmination of some of the lyrical and musical concerns she's been exploring since BLACKLISTED..."

Clash (magazine) (p.110) - "These songs are stronger, better conceived and even more impressively performed. Once again, Case's trademark countrified pipes define each song..."

Uncut (magazine) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "It's more than just country; it's a glorious pop album with roots in classic rock, folk, Motown and more."