Steve Huey of allmusic called Technical Difficulties arguably "their most accessible release to date" and the band "may sound like an industrial band – clanking drum machines, synthesizers, and loud, crusty guitars – but Hate Dept. are alt-rockers at heart, emphasizing traditional song structure and punk lyrical attitude over sonic experimentation and abrasiveness."[3]CMJ said "slamming rock intensity into the looming keyboard progressions of Front 242, while adding jazzy horns and Nine Inch Nails-worthy power ballads, Technical Difficulties is easily the most diverse and robotic weapon in Hate Dept.'s arsenal."[4] The magazine listed Technical Difficulties as one of the magazine's top choices for the month of June.[5]
