Rolling Stone (p.72) - 3.5 stars out of 5 -- "Earles knows these songs intimately -- some of the greatest in the folk-country canon -- and delivers them with the ease of breathing, mostly unadorned."

Spin (p.86) - "[H]e does his idol justice on this vibrant covers set, delivering supersonic bluegrass and starry-eyed ballads with the same thoughtful finesse."

Entertainment Weekly (p.59) - "On his latest album, Steve Earle, who remains Van Zandt's foremost disciple, gives 15 favorites the kind of carefully considered settings they deserve..."

Billboard (p.34) - "Throughout, Earle's shape-shifting voice inhabits the songs just like Van Zandt's own colorful characters inhabit them..."

Q (Magazine) (p.132) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "[A] dream album, full of devotion, care and spirit as he gently caresses new nuances out of even the much-covered and revered 'Pancho & Lefty,' and adds sinister new layers to 'Marie'..."

Record Collector (magazine) (p.82) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "This is an album of subtlety and reserve, which allows the original emotional intent of the music to speak for itself."

Uncut (magazine) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "Van Zandt could be both masochistic thrill-seeker and gentle poet, and Earle know his subject from the outside in."