Nathan Pike of The Spill Magazine praised the album, writing that "A good cover song ought to sound as if the artist has connected to the beauty that exists in their chosen tune, spending time getting to know it, and then introducing it to some new peaks and valleys as it is made into their own interpretation. Thief, a collection of covers recorded over the last decade and the latest release from Canada’s beloved Dan Mangan, holds true to what a worthy cover can be. These aren’t just cherry-picked tunes, they are songs that have held deeper meaning and weight for Mangan."[3]
Stuart Derdeyn of the Vancouver Sun singled out Mangan's versions of Cake's "Love You Madly" and Robyn's "Hang with Me" as among the album's highlights, noting that Mangan's interpretations placed a whole new emphasis on the romantic or melancholy depth of the lyrics compared to the more upbeat production of the original versions.[2]
