Juliana Hatfield Lightning Might Strike
Juliana Hatfield's Lightning Might Strike arrives as a candid, emotionally sharp collection that turns grief and wry humor into immediate, melodic songs. Across four professional reviews critics largely praise the record's mix of moody indie pop and power-pop reinvention, noting how moments of isolation and gratitude coexist across its songs. With a consensus score of 81.5/100 from four professional reviews, the critical consensus leans positive and attentive to Hatfield's emotional honesty.
Reviewers consistently point to “Fall Apart” as the album's emotional fulcrum, while “All I've Got”, “Ashes”, “Math Equation”, and “Popsicle” surface repeatedly as standout tracks. Critics note recurring themes of heartbreak, fate, loss, and bittersweet irony, praising Hatfield's knack for turning personal rubble into crisp hooks and candid lines. Across the reviews professional critics highlight the record's range - from stripped-down tenderness on “All I’ve Got” to near-electronic shimmer on “Math Equation” - and they credit tasteful contributions from collaborators for keeping many of the best songs intimate and immediate.
While most reviews celebrate Hatfield's directness and the album's memorable melodies, some critics temper enthusiasm by pointing out moments where upbeat arrangements mask darker lyrical undercurrents, making the record occasionally ambivalent in tone. That tension, however, is part of the album's appeal: the critical consensus suggests Lightning Might Strike is worth listening to for those seeking poignant songwriting, Gen X perspective, and a handful of genuinely standout tracks. Below follow the full reviews that flesh out why critics agree this collection ranks among Hatfield's most emotionally forthright work.
Critics' Top Tracks
The standout songs that made critics take notice
All I've Got
1 mention
"the stripped-down acoustic piece about having that one thing"— Glide Magazine
Good Riddance
1 mention
"she manages a perky as well as gorgeously floaty, cathartic, if still bittersweet final track - Good Riddance"— Song Bar
Math Equation
1 mention
"On Math Equation, for example: "You said I needed my own friends / So I found them / Then you fucked them.""— Song Bar
the stripped-down acoustic piece about having that one thing
Track Ratings
How critics rated each track, relative to this album (0-100). Only tracks that made critics feel something are rated.
Fall Apart
Long Slow Nervous Breakdown
Popsicle
My House Is Not My Dream House
Harmonizing With Myself
Scratchers
Constant Companion
Where Are You Now
Strong Too Long
Wouldn't Change Anything
Ashes
All I've Got
What Critics Are Saying
Deep insights from 3 critics who reviewed this album
Critic's Take
Juliana Hatfield has always made heartbreak sound beautiful, and on Lightning Might Strike she refines that gift further with songs like “Fall Apart” and “Ashes”. The record threads grief, fate, and gratitude through ringingly melodic tunes, so if you search for the best songs on Lightning Might Strike you will be pulled to “Fall Apart” for its startling image and to “Ashes” for its elegiac clarity. Hatfield's voice and the tasteful contributions from longtime collaborators keep these best tracks intimate and immediate, making the album's best tracks feel both personal and universal. The result makes clear why listeners seeking the best tracks on Lightning Might Strike will find themselves returning to these emotional centerpieces.
Key Points
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The best song, "Fall Apart," combines vivid lyrical imagery with emotional immediacy, making it the album's emotional opener.
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The album's strengths are Hatfield's ability to render grief as melodic beauty and the tasteful contributions of longtime collaborators.
Themes
Critic's Take
Juliana Hatfield remains a Gen X touchstone on Lightning Might Strike, and the best songs - notably “Fall Apart” and “All I’ve Got” - show why. John Moore’s voice here is conversational and wry, praising the album’s sometimes-jangly, sometimes-moody indie pop while singling out “Popsicle” for its driving upbeat sound that belies darker lyrics. The review highlights how “Scratchers” offers measured optimism, and closes by noting that the stripped-down tenderness of “All I’ve Got” makes the album feel emotionally honest. This framing answers listeners asking for the best tracks on Lightning Might Strike by pointing to those standout moments where Hatfield’s songwriting is most distinctive.
Key Points
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“All I’ve Got” is the best song for its stripped-down tenderness that yields genuine emotional honesty.
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The album’s core strengths are Hatfield’s wry, self-effacing songwriting and varied indie-pop arrangements that avoid sounding repetitive.
Themes
Critic's Take
Juliana Hatfield sounds unusually direct on Lightning Might Strike, mining grief into bright hooks and candid lines. The review highlights best songs like “Fall Apart”, “Ashes”, and “Constant Companion” as moments where personal rubble becomes power-pop gold. The voice is frank and observant, noting how even the sunny “Popsicle” masks a mind melting under pressure. Overall the best tracks on Lightning Might Strike are praised for turning honesty into immediate, crunchy songs that stick.
Key Points
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The best song(s) turn private loss into immediate, catchy power-pop, with “Fall Apart” leading that charge.
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The album's core strengths are candid lyrics, crunchy hooks, and the contrast of sunny melodies with heavy subject matter.