 In his book Revolution: The Making of the Beatles'White Album, Uncut critic David Quantick recognises the song's musical qualities – describing it as "a powerful song, full of angry climaxes" with "a fine [vocal] performance … [and] a charming baroque feel" – yet he bemoans its "arrogant" and misanthropic message. Quantick concludes: "Although the Beatles preached peace and love and meant it, large parts of the White Album indicate that they could be a bit selective about it." While acknowledging the sinister connotations that the song gained through its association with Manson, Ian Inglis considers that the intentions behind Harrison's send-up of capitalist consumerism were reasonable, but the track fails due to its lack of "subtlety or charm".
