Al Kniola - WVPE-FM (NPR), Elkhart, IN (in reaction to "The Shores of My Hometown") - "Bill Isles' performance style and songs are as comfortable as your favorite blanket. You get wrapped up in them and don't want to leave the warmth they create."
Reader Weekly - ”Bill Isles is the Steven Spielberg of folk music. His music is highly enjoyable.”

Wendy V’s Local Blend - ‘The Threshold’ establishes Bill as one of the most gifted and solid singer/songwriters in the upper Midwest area.”

Other Side of Country.com - Jack Sparks – “Bill Isles began the evening, and his funny, loose demeanor and seemingly easy picking of his guitar set everyone in a good mood. I was reminded of two live Townes Van Zandt CD's I have as I watched him. There's a rounded age to his voice, and a conviction in his words, that comes across almost immediately... ‘The Hole in Our Town’ is a brilliant piece of storytelling in song.”

Minneapolis Star-Tribune – Chris Riemenschneider – (Regarding the 2002 Minnesota Folk Festival) “I saw shiny happy people and great musical sets… personal highlight...the pairing of Becky Schlegel with last year's New Folk winner, Bill Isles...”

Reader Weekly - Todd Newton - "On the stellar debut effort Weightless (2001), Duluth, MN-based singer/songwriter Bill Isles (winner of the 2001 Minnesota Folk Festival New Folk songwriting contest) offers a blissful and inspired collection of lighter-than-air recordings. Beginning with the mandolin, organ and fiddle-fueled "That's How She Seems", the combination of soothing lead vocal and lilting pace seamlessly blends with an ear-pleasing harmony vocal (courtesy of Jessica Lind), resulting in a highly infectious composition worthy of repeat listening. Continuing with the truly beautiful "I Can't Take You Home" and the spell-binding "That's When I'll Whisper", vocalists Becky Schlegel and Lind provide a dynamic and soulful accompaniment to the windswept arrangements and though-provoking story-lines." "A breathtaking array of emotions".

Bill's performance at the Just Plain Folks Anniversary Party in Minneapolis caught the attention of City's Tone Publisher David Keiski. "Isles' use of word pictures and metaphors separates his work from the others in more ways than one. He is a more seasoned craftsman that has put a lot of work into the task of songwriting, and it's easy to tell that Isles takes a lot of time, is serious and diligent about his subjects. He is a thoughtful and creative storyteller, mixing interesting images into what is the perfect introduction to the other songwriters, and to our table, this song, Photo Mosaic...  I imagine Bill Isles doing very well in Nashville, and at bluegrass and folk festivals... he has the craft of songwriting down... The musical feeling of (his) CD is warm like Isles' voice... there are moments of brilliance"

Budgeteer News – Joan Farnam – “Be prepared for more than a musical experience”