 In a very positive review, prominent music critic Robert Christgau felt that most of the songs "live up to the underlining" and considered the album to be the best punk debut since the ones by the Ramones, Sex Pistols, The Clash, and Wire.AllMusic reviewer Tom Demalon praised the loud guitar playing of both Rootes and Jones and opined that "the lack of dynamic diversity makes "Black Eye" somewhat of a one-trick pony, but it's a trick that makes the album's strongest tracks a joy.