"From a musical standpoint, This Sweet Old World is a genuine improvement over the original LP. Here Williams is backed by her road band, and they give the material an approach that feels more organic, especially with Stuart Mathis on guitar, while their push-and-pull with Williams' vocals boasts more nuance. These recordings also lack the very dated drum sounds and production decisions that feel like flaws 25 years after Sweet Old World was first released. But the double-edged sword here is Williams' vocals. On Sweet Old World, she often sounded like she was still learning how to best interpret her material, and she occasionally seemed clumsy and unsure, though never less than emotionally honest".