 Heather Phares of AllMusic felt that while Give Up did not measure up to either Gibbard or Tamborello 's main projects , it was nonetheless " far more consistent and enjoyable than might be expected . " Michaelangelo Matos of Rolling Stone described the album as " a cuddly little new wave reverie " and wrote that " Tamborello 's delightful pings and whistles fit Gibbard 's whimsy perfectly . " Devon Powers of PopMatters remarked that " like any worthy match , the coming together gives each aspect assets that they 'd be wont to find otherwise " , concluding that the album " integrates the human and the humanoid to give soundtrack to the disconnected , yet earnest escapades of contemporary emotional life . " 
