Almost Cool: Arab Strap - Mad For Sadness - Aaron Coleman's review: "great in terms of both capturing a live performance, as well as the sound of the group." Rated 7.75.
HearSay: Arab Strap - Mad For Sadness - Daiv Whaley's review: "Recommended for fans of the Tindersticks and Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds, John Cassavetes films, and summer funerals." (September, 2000)
Flak Magazine: Arab Strap - The Red Thread - Eric Wittmershaus' review: "a collection of tunes worthy of owning for the presence of more than two or three good songs and a bunch of run-of-the-mill musical soup."
NME: Arab Strap - The Red Thread - Piers Martin's review: "a frequently beautiful record, as dark and twisted and funny as anything the band have ever produced." Rated 7 out of 10.
Pitchfork: Arab Strap - The Red Thread - Camilo Arturo Leslie's review: "Moffat's gift for both eulogy and bile, and for making the unpalatable much less so is striking, repetition be damned." Rated 6.9.
Splendid E-zine: Arab Strap - The Red Thread - Theodore Defosse's review: "I am certain that the songs on The Red Thread could have been better if the group had bypassed its trademark vocal style and actually played along with the lyrics".
