"mötley crüe" received mixed reviews. in general, critics remarked how the band had adapted their trademark sound to the new trends of grunge and alternative metal. according to neil arnold of "metal forces", this change of style misrepresents the band, which maybe "should have gone under a different name" for this album. new vocalist john corabi's vocal range and soulful performance are generally praised, as they are more suited to the new sound of the band. for katherine turman of "the los angeles times" his "voice is meatier and more appealing than predecessor vince neil's" and may be responsible for the shift in focus towards a less flashy style. however, arion berger of "rolling stone" defined the music "samey", while chuck eddy in his review for "entertainment weekly" appreciated the ballads, but called the album's heavy tracks "an overbearing plod".