Bleed Like Me (song) - Critical Reception

Critical Reception

"Bleed Like Me" received a largely positive reception from critics, contrasted to the mixed reactions of the Bleed Like Me album. Johnny Sharp of Kerrang! felt that "Bleed Like Me" "almost seems to be mocking own tendency towards self-obsession"; while their Emma Johnston, in a review for the album wrote that "Bleed Like Me" was the "most striking" song of the set, adding that it was "the most poignant, empathic reflection of self-abuse since Manic Street Preachers' "4st 7lb" - over a gorgeous cello strewn background, battle scars, worn with pride, there to show that she survived". Bev Lyons of Daily Record wrote that the song was "simplicity itself, dark and introspective" and was the stand-out track from the album, favourably comparing the track to Lou Reed's "Walk on the Wild Side", as did Guitar magazine's Jenny Knight. Isabel Mohan of Heat complimented Shirley's "seductive" voice as "better than ever" (however two years later the same publications Laila Hassan described "Bleed Like Me" as "a little tiresome and dreary" in a review of Absolute Garbage).