Joan Armatrading How Did This Happen and What Does It Now Mean
Joan Armatrading's How Did This Happen and What Does It Now Mean opens with a question that frames the record's mix of reflection, resistance and retro-pop craft. Across four professional reviews the critical consensus lands squarely mixed but attentive, noting episodes of vivid songwriting and masterful guitar alongside moments that feel like filler. The collection earned a 58.5/100 consensus score across 4 professional reviews, signaling a record that intrigues critics more than it overwhelms them.
Reviewers consistently praise Armatrading's vocal authority and guitar virtuosity, with standout tracks emerging repeatedly: “Come Back To Me (If Only In Dreams)”, “I Gave You My Keys”, “Now What” and the title track “How Did This Happen And What Does It Now Mean”. Critics note the album's genre-blending - rock, pop, R&B and occasional disco/pop revival flourishes - and flag confessional, observation-based songwriting as the record's strongest suit. Across reviews from The Guardian, Classic Rock, The Spill Magazine and The Skinny, songs such as “I’m Not Moving” and “Someone Else” are singled out for their emotional clarity, groove and guitar showmanship.
At the same time some critics point to inconsistency, where ambitious stylistic detours produce weaker material like “Irresistible” rather than sustained highs. The critical consensus suggests the album rewards repeat listens for devoted fans and those drawn to craft-driven, narrative songwriting, even if it stops short of being an essential reinvention. For a listener wondering whether How Did This Happen and What Does It Now Mean is worth their time, the verdict from professional reviews is nuanced: notable highs and signature performances make parts of the record must-listen, while the uneven stretches temper universal acclaim.
Critics' Top Tracks
The standout songs that made critics take notice
Come Back To Me (If Only In Dreams)
2 mentions
"the gorgeous Come Back To Me (If Only In Dreams)"— Classic Rock Magazine
I Gave You My Keys
2 mentions
"the regretful I Gave You My Keys"— Classic Rock Magazine
Now What
2 mentions
"On Back And Forth and Now What? , Armatrading does serious harm to electric guitars."— Classic Rock Magazine
the gorgeous Come Back To Me (If Only In Dreams)
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
What Critics Are Saying
Deep insights from 5 critics who reviewed this album
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
Cl
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
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.
Themes
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.