The
music critics' reviews for the album were mostly favorable. John Bush of
AllMusic gave it three and a half stars out of five, stating that the album takes an intimate approach, without grand orchestral arrangements or grandiose numbers. Minnelli skillfully enriches her aging voice, turning occasional weaknesses into interpretive strengths and conveying warmth in songs like "You Fascinate Me So" and "I Hadn't Anyone Till You." Christian John Wikane of
PopMatters gave it eight out of ten stars, stating that the album is an expanded view of a woman whose greatest gift is to touch the audience, even from the distance between the stage and the last row in the gallery or, in this case, from the recording studio to the sound system in her living room. He concluded that
Confessions would be excellent company for the next 14 years. ==Chart performance==