Editing Whammy! (section)

===Critical===
{{Album ratings
| rev1      = [[AllMusic]]
| rev1Score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}<ref name="Erlewine">{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/whammy%21-mw0000198509 |title=Whammy! – The B-52s |publisher=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=October 17, 2004 |last=Erlewine |first=Stephen Thomas |author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine}}</ref>
| rev2      = ''[[PopMatters]]''
| rev2Score = 8/10<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.popmatters.com/ranking-the-b-52s-albums |title=Ranking the B-52s Albums |website=[[PopMatters]] |date=May 3, 2022 |access-date=July 22, 2022 |last=Wilhelm |first=Rich}}</ref>
| rev3      = ''[[Rolling Stone]]''
| rev3Score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref name="Connelly">{{cite magazine |url=http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/theb52s/albums/album/212615/review/5946677/whammy |title=The B-52's: Whammy! |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |issue=397 |date=June 9, 1983 |access-date=July 26, 2007 |last=Connelly |first=Christopher |author-link=Chris Connelly (journalist) |pages=55, 57 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071001211137/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/theb52s/albums/album/212615/review/5946677/whammy |archive-date=October 1, 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| rev4      = ''[[The Rolling Stone Album Guide]]''
| rev4Score = {{Rating|2|5}}<ref>{{cite book |chapter=The B-52's |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=t9eocwUfoSoC&pg=PA67 |access-date=November 2, 2011 |last=Considine |first=J. D. |author-link=J. D. Considine |title=The New Rolling Stone Album Guide |title-link=The Rolling Stone Album Guide |editor1-last=Brackett |editor1-first=Nathan |editor1-link=Nathan Brackett |editor2-last=Hoard |editor2-first=Christian |editor2-link=Christian Hoard |publisher=[[Simon & Schuster]] |edition=4th |year=2004 |isbn=0-7432-0169-8 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/newrollingstonea00brac/page/67 67–68]}}</ref>
| rev5      = ''[[Select (magazine)|Select]]''
| rev5Score = 3/5<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Flip Your Wig|last=Cavanagh|first=David|date=July 1990|page=121|magazine=[[Select (magazine)|Select]]}}</ref>
| rev6      = ''[[Spin Alternative Record Guide]]''
| rev6Score = 7/10<ref>{{cite book |chapter=B-52's |last=Huston |first=Johnny |title=Spin Alternative Record Guide |title-link=Spin Alternative Record Guide |editor1-last=Weisbard |editor1-first=Eric |editor1-link=Eric Weisbard |editor2-last=Marks |editor2-first=Craig |publisher=[[Vintage Books]] |year=1995 |isbn=0-679-75574-8 |pages=38–39 |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/spinalternativer0000unse/page/38/mode/1up}}</ref>
| rev7      = ''[[The Village Voice]]''
| rev7Score = A−<ref name="Christgau">{{cite news |url=https://robertchristgau.com/xg/cg/cgv6-83.php |title=Christgau's Consumer Guide |newspaper=[[The Village Voice]] |date=June 28, 1983 |access-date=November 22, 2011 |last=Christgau |first=Robert |author-link=Robert Christgau}}</ref>
}}
Critical reception for ''Whammy!'' was positive at the time of its release.{{sfn|Sexton|2002|p=67}} Most critics regarded the album as a return to form after the band's previous release, ''Mesopotamia'', which they felt strayed too far from the band's signature sound. Praise was given to the drum machines and synthesizers, which created upbeat and highly danceable songs,{{sfn|Sexton|2002|p=271}} as well as the tight lyrics and over the top vocals.{{sfn|Sexton|2002|p=67}} 

''[[Rolling Stone]]''{{'}}s [[Chris Connelly (journalist)|Christopher Connelly]], while referring to ''Mesopotamia'' as "underrated", was pleased with the band's return to their trademark style, and felt that even with the addition of [[Devo]]-style keyboards, producer Steven Stanley had "kept the band's basic strengths intact: breakneck tempos, deliciously uninhibited singing and an earnest enthusiasm for some of the universe's less-celebrated pleasures". He particularly praised Pierson, [[Cindy Wilson]], and [[Fred Schneider]]'s vocals. While remarking that the entirety of side two is "a waste", he concluded, "What is important is that this band is having fun again - and in this age of dopey [[novelty song]]s and cheesy dance tracks, nobody does it better."<ref name="Connelly"/> [[Robert Christgau]] of ''[[The Village Voice]]'' continued his support, making it a "Pick Hit" and stating that while the band "still pick up some great ideas at interplanetary garage sales, their celebration of the pop mess-around is getting earthier."<ref name="Christgau"/>

[[Stephen Thomas Erlewine]] of [[AllMusic]] later said the album was "certainly entertaining, even with its faults," praising the songs "Legal Tender", "Whammy Kiss", "Butterbean", and "Song for a Future Generation", and overall regarding the album as a strong follow-up to ''Mesopotamia'', though he criticized the album's overuse of drum machines and synthesizers.<ref name="Erlewine"/>  Ben Wener of ''[[The Spectator]]'' commented favorably on ''Whammy!'', describing it as an "overlooked gem".<ref name="Spectator">{{cite news|author=Wener, Ben|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/thestar/access/509127881.html?dids=509127881:509127881&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Aug+11%2C+1998&author=Ben+Wener&pub=The+Spectator&desc=The+B-52s+party+on!%3A+Nearly+20+years+after+turning+the+pop+world+on+its+ear%2C+the+group+is+gaining+in+popularity.&pqatl=google|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026092211/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/thestar/access/509127881.html?dids=509127881:509127881&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Aug+11,+1998&author=Ben+Wener&pub=The+Spectator&desc=The+B-52s+party+on!:+Nearly+20+years+after+turning+the+pop+world+on+its+ear,+the+group+is+gaining+in+popularity.&pqatl=google|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 26, 2012|title=The B-52s party on!: Nearly 20 years after turning the pop world on its ear, the group is gaining in popularity|work=[[The Spectator]]|page=D-10|date=1998-08-11}}</ref>