 Bradley Torreano of AllMusic described the album as "the next step toward the icy-cold future of alternative rock that "Kid A" forecasted".Philip Sherburne of "Cleveland Scene" called it "not only one of the most melancholy records of late, but also a triumph of musical gene splicing, drawing together folk-flavored indie rock and the skittering beats of experimental electronica".Nathan Rooney of "Pitchfork" commented that "with "Cold House", Hood seem to have finally stumbled into a sound all their own".