In the 1992 Rolling Stone Album Guide, Mark Coleman wrote that Pure Mania was among "the few original punk artifacts that still sound urgent—and necessary."[3]Trouser Press called it "a treasure trove of memorable ditties".[4]AllMusic's Mark Deming said the album "isn't purist's punk, but it's pure rock & roll, and there's nothing wrong with that."[1]Village Voice critic Robert Christgau described it as "good new-fashioned rock and roll at its wildest".[2]