Brian Cohen of Billboard magazine noted that "Clocks" served as a "launching pad" for songs featured in X&Y, "several of which echo that track either in structure or feel."
Brian Cohen fra Billboard-magasinet noterede sig, at "Clocks" fungerer som "affyringsrampe" for sangene på X&Y, "hvoraf mange bærer et ekko af nummeret enten i struktur eller fornemmelse".