Proxy Music

The album cover is a parody of the cover for Roxy Music's 1972 self-titled debut album, with its title also being a play on that of the band's name, as artists are performing songs composed by Thompson for her by proxy.^[1]

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	86/100[2]
Review scores
Source	Rating
The Guardian	[3]
Mojo	[4]
MusicOMH	[5]
Pitchfork	7.5/10[6]
Record Collector	[1]
Uncut	9/10[7]

Proxy Music received a score of 86 out of 100 on review aggregator Metacritic based on nine critics' reviews, which the website categorised as "universal acclaim".^[2] Record Collector's Nick Dalton found it to be "almost like one of those all-star tribute albums, except that this isn't a trawl through past glories and [Linda] was very much involved in its creation with folk-rocking son Teddy Thompson, who produced. There's an ethereal feel, something that transcends the boundaries of folk, a gentleness yet something more, helped by the guitar of Richard."^[1] Mojo called it "a fabulous record" and "a unique kind of Various Artists tribute album" without "a bad one among" its tracks, concluding that it is "in all, delightful".^[4]

Uncut felt that "Thompson's writing gives this stellar cast plenty to work with, her wit rising to such meta conceits as 'John Grant', on which John Grant sings of Thompson's fondness for him, and 'Those Damn Roches', on which Teddy Thompson conveys the tempestuousness of musical dynasties – including his (and his mum's) own."^[7] John Murphy of MusicOMH wrote that "despite the sad circumstances behind the album, there's a wicked sense of humour snaking through these songs", which he described as "a celebration of one of folk's most talented figures" and "great to hear that Linda Thompson has found her voice again, with a little help from her friends".^[5] Andy Cush of Pitchfork found that "the music [...] could fit onto any of those classic '70s records" she made with Richard, "with stately acoustic instrumentation and melodies that wind patiently without flashy pop hooks. Her sensibility as a lyricist is informed by the folk tradition, and she writes often about the sort of heartbreak and regret that also characterized her songs with Richard."^[6]