Joan Armatrading How Did This Happen and What Does It Now Mean
Released Nov 22, 2024 BMG Rights Management (UK) Ltd.
Consensus forming 4 professional reviews Updated Oct 2, 2026
Mostly positive consensus
Consensus is still forming across 4 professional reviews. Joan Armatrading's How Did This Happen and What Does It Now Mean opens with a question that doubles as a mission statement, a record rooted in observation, reflection and guitar virtuosity that critics largely find rewarding if occasionally uneven.
How ChoruScore worksCritics' Top Tracks
The songs critics returned to most
Come Back To Me (If Only In Dreams)
1 critic mention
“the gorgeous Come Back To Me (If Only In Dreams)” — Classic Rock Magazine
Back And Forth
1 critic mention
“On Back And Forth and Now What? , Armatrading does serious harm to electric guitars.” — Classic Rock Magazine
Now What
1 critic mention
“On Back And Forth and Now What? , Armatrading does serious harm to electric guitars.” — Classic Rock Magazine
Full critic consensus
Joan Armatrading's How Did This Happen and What Does It Now Mean opens with a question that doubles as a mission statement, a record rooted in observation, reflection and guitar virtuosity that critics largely find rewarding if occasionally uneven. Across professional reviews, the album's strengths are its songwriting craft, strong vocals and moments of dazzling guitar work, while some reviewers fault the production for flattening otherwise vivid arrangements.
The critical consensus sits at a 70/100 across four professional reviews, and critics consistently point to several standout songs as evidence of Armatrading's enduring powers. “I Gave You My Keys” is repeatedly praised for its vocal punch and closing heft, while “Come Back To Me (If Only In Dreams)” draws notice as a stunning orchestral ballad. The title track, “How Did This Happen And What Does It Now Mean”, and “I’m Not Moving” earn frequent mention for their plaintive, observational lyrics and emotional directness. Electric showpieces like “Back And Forth” and “Now What” are highlighted for guitar fireworks that recall Armatrading's classic era.
Reviews balance admiration with qualification: several critics celebrate the record as a confident, genre-blending continuation of past classics - confessional pop with rock, R&B and disco-pop touches - while others note moments of filler and dated, over-polished production. The collection rewards repeated listens, offering nostalgia and fresh invention in equal measure. For readers asking whether How Did This Happen and What Does It Now Mean is worth attention, the consensus suggests a recommended listen for fans of Joan Armatrading's songwriting and guitar-led storytelling, even if the album falls short of being uniformly essential.
Below, the full reviews unpack where the record shines and where it divides opinion.
Track Ratings
How critics rated each track, relative to this album (0-100). Only tracks that made critics feel something are rated.
25 Kisses
Someone Else
Irresistible
I'm Not Moving
Say It Tomorrow
Back And Forth
Come Back To Me (If Only In Dreams)
Here’s What I Know
Redemption Love
How Did This Happen And What Does It Now Mean
Now What
I Gave You My Keys
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What Critics Are Saying
Deep insights from 6 critics who reviewed this album
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Critic's Take
Joan Armatrading's How Did This Happen And What Does It Now Mean feels like a return to the confessional pop that made her name, with the best songs — notably “I Gave You My Keys” and “Come Back To Me (If Only In Dreams)” — full of sadness and soul. David Quantick writes with a clear fondness for the record's mixture of familiar emotional rock and fresh invention, pointing to the album's gorgeous moments and insane guitar workouts. He flags “Back And Forth” and “Now What?” as electric-guitar showpieces that do serious harm, and frames the whole album as both familiar and brand new. The result is an album that may not stun but will clearly stir listeners looking for Joan's strongest recent songs.
Key Points
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The best song is emotionally direct and 'regretful', making 'I Gave You My Keys' the standout.
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The album's core strengths are its confessional pop songwriting, heartfelt sadness, and striking guitar work.
Themes
Ho
Critic's Take
Joan Armatrading still writes with a sure hand on How Did This Happen and What Does It Now Mean, but the production often flattens the impact. The review singles out “25 Kisses”, “Someone Else” and “I’m Not Moving” for their pleasing melodies, even if they feel a touch too safe. John Walshe praises the lovely core of “Redemption Love” and the vocal power buried in “I Gave You My Keys”, while noting that the piano-driven “Irresistible” could be a late-career highlight. Overall, the songs shine in composition but are held back by dated, over-polished arrangements.
Key Points
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The best song candidates like “Irresistible” stand out for strong piano-driven melody and hit potential.
Critic's Take
Joan Armatrading leans into buoyant, self-assured pop on How Did This Happen and What Does It Now Mean, and the best songs prove why - especially “25 Kisses” and “I’m Not Moving”, which bristle with irresistible groove and sass. Jack Faulds' review foregrounds the fizz of “25 Kisses” and the resistance in “I’m Not Moving” as the album's high points, while noting weaker moments like “Irresistible” that overstretch themselves. The piece positions “Someone Else” as a fan-pleasing bridge back to Armatrading's 80s peak, making clear which tracks answer the question of best songs on the record.
Key Points
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The best song, notably "25 Kisses", succeeds through its discofied groove and gorgeous bass tone.
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The album's core strengths are infectious pop hooks and moments of reflective, groovy songwriting, despite occasional filler.
Themes
Critic's Take
The title track of How Did This Happen and What Does It Now Mean feels like a plaintive question at the heart of the record, while “I’m Not Moving” channels a bleak, observational fury that Joan turns into story. The review voice dwells on how observation fuels songs, so the best songs - especially “I’m Not Moving” and the title track - work because they turn real, unsettling moments into music. It reads like a conversation with the world, part memory, part indictment, and those songs emerge as the clearest statements of intent.
Key Points
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The best song, “I’m Not Moving”, is strongest because it transforms a witnessed meltdown into sharp, observational songwriting.
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The album's core strength is its observational focus and thematic questioning about social polarisation and hope.
Themes
Critic's Take
Joan Armatrading’s How Did This Happen and What Does It Now Mean bristles with sharp guitar work and songwriting that refuses neat categorization. The review rightly points to “Now What” for guitar fireworks, praises “Someone Else” as a beautifully arranged rock song, and calls “Come Back To Me (If Only In Dreams)” stunning for its orchestral balladry. The title track is singled out as a poignant, bluesy-funky highlight, while “I Gave You My Keys” closes the album as a pointed, rocking coda. Overall, the critic frames the record as another classic from Armatrading, an album that gets richer with each play.
Key Points
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The best songs highlight Armatrading’s guitar and songwriting, especially “Now What” and “Someone Else”.
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The album’s core strengths are sharp guitar work, diverse genre blending, and mature, layered songwriting.