If you're brave enough to dip your toes into a musical unknown, there are pleasures a-plenty to be had in this recording. Whether or not there ever was a Max Champion, what's important here is that there is indeed a Joe Jackson who continues to challenge the lazy ears and programmed tastes of the listening public. After all these years, Jackson just wants to have fun, and that's a good thing.

— The Arts Fuse (Boston, US), 26 Nov. 2023

Joe Jackson's lastest [album] is a lovely ruse. (4/5 stars = excellent)

— Mojo (UK), Feb. 2024

A note perfect music hall pastiche with a potent whiff of modernity. [...] This is a gem of a set, what they used to call a corker.

— The Arts Desk (UK), 23 Nov. 2023

Jackson sounds a natural inhabiting a cheeky post-Victorian Cockney. [...] It's another niche concern for Jackson, but a racket that is acted out to perfection. (3.5/5 stars)

— Classic Pop (UK), Jan. 2024

The resulting record is indeed a racket – a joyous, bawdy one filled with barreling pianos, shouted affirmations, careening horns, dirty puns, and boozy singalongs. Jackson walks the thin line separating satire and tribute, exaggerating his Cockney accent and barely disguising his double entendres. His gusto is the reason why 'What a Racket!' is such a delight: it's as audacious in its execution as it is in its conception. (4/5 stars)

— AllMusic.com, 4 Dec. 2023

'What A Racket!' is a clever, well thought out and executed period piece which I'm sure will bring so much joy if you only allow it a little time to enter your life. (9/10 points)

— Maximum Volume Music (UK), 24 Nov. 2023

In the same way that he celebrated jazz with 1981's 'Jumpin' Jive', Jackson presents Champion's songs with a 12-piece orchestra on this delightfully curious collection.

— Vancouver Sun (CA), 24 Nov. 2023

It has absolutely nothing to do with rock or any concept of contemporary pop culture. Instead, these refreshingly different-sounding songs drill into the auditory membrane so vehemently that you feel you've always known them. (4.5/5 points)

— Audio+Stereoplay (DE), Jan. 2024

This album is an opportunity for our man Joe to live out all of his secret music hall fantasies – both the performing and (SPOILER ALERT!) the writing as well – while adding another unique and, it must be said, extremely fun and bouncy installment to his ongoing discography.

— Q online (UK), 24 Nov. 2023

The result is a fascinating hit-and-miss mixed bag. Some songs are beyond dated ... while others sound almost contemporary.

— Daily Mirror (UK), 24 Nov. 2023

Further reviews:

• Stereo (DE), Jan. 2024
• Das Magazin (DE), Jan. 2024
• Corriere della Sera (IT), 10 Dec. 2023
• The Province (CA), 3 Dec. 2023
• Gazet van Antwerpen (BE), 2 Dec. 2023
• Eclipsed (DE), Dec. 2023
• Classic Rock (IT), Dec. 2023 (90/100 points)
• coolmag.it, 30 Nov. 2023
• De Standaard (BE), 29 Nov. 2023 (4/5 stars)
• Nieuwsblad (BE), 28 Nov. 2023
• Rolling Stone (DE), 24 Nov. 2023 (4/5 stars)
• laut.de, 24 Nov. 2023
• mucke-und-mehr.de, 24 Nov. 2023 (8/10 points)
• Aachener Zeitung (DE), 24 Nov. 2023
• kultur-extra.de, 23 Nov. 2023 (5/5 points)
• soundsandbooks.com (DE), 23 Nov. 2023
• Red Hook Star-Revue (US), 12 Nov. 2023