 Critical reception of the album was positive overall . Robin Denselow of The Guardian awarded the album four of five stars and wrote that Wainwright 's performance sounded as " easy @-@ going and spontaneous " and it does at his live concerts . Denselow considered " House " to be the album 's best track . The Daily Telegraph 's Colin Irwin described the album as " oddly uplifting " despite its " variants on the theme that we 're all doomed " from the economic crisis . The Observer contributor Neil Spencer wrote that " while [ Wainwright 's ] tone becomes shrill at times , his mix of nihilism and jauntiness ( with ukulele ) are finally uplifting . " Music journalist Andy Gill of The Independent recommended the tracks " House " , " Fear Itself " and " The Panic Is On " . Simmy Richman 's review for The Independent complimented Wainwright 's ability to address current issues " simply and effectively " , claiming " Wainwright can make you laugh , nod in agreement , shake your fist in despair and want to sing along " . Richman appreciated Wainwright 's honesty and humor and wrote that he displayed " better lyrical form than he has been in for some time " . The Independent included 10 Songs on their " Indy Choice : Best of the New Music " list for the week of July 16 , 2010 . PopMatters ' Alex Ramon preferred Wainwright 's album Social Studies ( 1999 ) , but considered 10 Songs to be " an enjoyable effort nonetheless " , complimenting it for its simple approach . Furthermore , Ramon wrote that the album " succeeds in getting you smiling rather than despairing at the mess we 're in , and that 's always been one of Wainwright 's great gifts " . 
