Rett Smith has received critical praise for his blend of dark Americana, rock, and post-punk. Billboard described his music as “equal parts tortured blues, gospel, soul, and murder ballad,” noting his commitment to emotionally raw songwriting and intense performances.[27] Flood Magazine called his 2020 single “Rattlesnakes” “a dark, melancholic track [that] digs into the gothic heart of Americana.”[28]

Soho House named Smith “the future of American rock ’n’ roll,” citing his “unapologetic sombre sound rooted in the past.”[29] Holler Country described his 2021 album What the Walls Cannot See as “a stark, unflinching listen,” with “dark, confessional weight.”[30] Paste Magazine featured his live performance in a full Paste Studio session, highlighting his “gritty, dynamic stage presence.”[31]

American Songwriter named “Better Day” a Best New Music pick,[32] and KUTX 98.9 featured “Stop Signs” and “Pick Up the Pieces” as Song of the Day in 2024.[33]antiMusic.com praised his 2023 duet “Cabin Song” with Jessica Lea Mayfield as “intense and cinematic,” drawing comparisons to Nick Cave.[34]

Smith’s work has also been covered by Texas Monthly, which praised his “West Texas roots and sonic authenticity,”[35] and by BrooklynVegan for his 2021 single “The Hook,” described as “a stark, emotional reckoning.”[36] Earlier, NYLONpremiered “One to Blame,” highlighting Smith’s “soulful grit and restraint.”[37] No Depression praised his early work as “self-contained rock with just enough grit to make it roll.”[38]