Italian Ice (album)

Italian Ice was met with generally favorable reviews from critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a weighted average rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, this release received an average score of 78, based on 8 reviews.^[3]

Hal Horowitz of American Songwriter wrote, "This flawlessly conceived follow-up draws from many of the same influences yet broadens her boundaries. It's every bit as potent and expertly arranged, putting it in play as an early contender for one of 2020's finest albums."^[5] Sowing of Sputnikmusic said, "Italian Ice is the product of a talented pool of contributors who simultaneously lift Atkins up while still allowing her tremendous vocals to remain the focal point. It's the strongest album that Nicole has put forth – a gem that hopefully will not go overlooked."^[8] Marcy Donelson of AllMusic wrote, "It's an eclectic set, for sure, but loyal to a nostalgic musicality that doesn't take itself too seriously; there's a bit of a wink and smile to Italian Ice that adds an extra layer of charm."^[4] Haydon Spenceley of Under the Radar said, "The whole album is stuffed with hooks and brilliant ideas. This is peak Nicole Atkins."^[9]

Conversely, Ross Horton of MusicOMH called it "a flawless yet anonymous pop-soul record that may as well not have had such an extensive guest list."^[7]