how i'm feeling now
by Charli XCX
  • Record Label: Atlantic
  • Release Date: May 15, 2020
User Score
8.6

Universal acclaim- based on 424 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 380 out of 424
  2. Mixed: 15 out of 424
  3. Negative: 29 out of 424
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  1. danielhigh05
    Sep 8, 2023
    9
    Brilliantly abrasive, Charli XCX deftly expresses herself in this experimental and rich-sounding project. The high ends of this album delivers a glittery and messy party that pairs nicely with the anthemic and disruptive lows. Charli is an indispensable musical talent, and it shows in her most deconstructed and emotive work yet.
  2. Anthony569
    Aug 1, 2023
    10
    This is my favorite album of all time. I love the hyperpop sound. It is so unique to Charli XCX and she does it so well. There isn't a single skip for me and I listen to this album on a weekly basis lol.
  3. angel_xcx
    May 14, 2023
    10
    Mother of quarantine albums. One of the most cohesive albums she had created and all in 5 weeks. Truly some of her best work and so many good memories attached to the making of this album.
  4. hannahwashere
    Mar 30, 2023
    8
    This is the sound of Lockdown. Superpop perfection with sensational production.
  5. Akura-ou
    Feb 1, 2023
    9
    It was released almost 3 years after 'Pop 2'. Even if I didn't like the mentioned project, although there is sharp hyperpop in both cases, I just like it more here.
  6. nami2
    Dec 28, 2022
    9
    An absolutely beautiful piece of work that just makes you want to dance and also cry and scream and just escape. I first listened to this album in 2020 and it stuck with me, helping me feel some sort of escape amidst the crashing synths (c2.0) but also making me scream the choruses and and feel a sense of longing (forever and party 4 u). Truly a beautiful album, and Charli really got aAn absolutely beautiful piece of work that just makes you want to dance and also cry and scream and just escape. I first listened to this album in 2020 and it stuck with me, helping me feel some sort of escape amidst the crashing synths (c2.0) but also making me scream the choruses and and feel a sense of longing (forever and party 4 u). Truly a beautiful album, and Charli really got a chance to let her lyricism and vocals shine. Absolutely love it.… Expand
  7. ferximilian
    Dec 10, 2022
    10
    Este es el álbum perfecto que describe el suceso más fuerte de las generaciones actuales, la pandemia.
  8. Demarques
    Oct 23, 2022
    10
    This album tells a story from start to end perfectly. And every time you listen to it, the story changes or you came up with new theories about the sounds and songwriting. Sometimes you just gotta be a genius and let your creativity shine.
    Masterpiece.
  9. diluteacid
    Aug 22, 2022
    10
    Truly one of the best in the genre, redefines what a during pandemic music creation can look like. I sometimes wish lockdown was different because there could be even more of this time of creation from some of our favorite artists. Look at each song and tell me it’s not amazing
  10. SimonXCX
    Mar 16, 2022
    10
    This album is what got me through the Covid-19 epidemic, it made me cry, it made me dance and i inevitably feel attached to this project by Ms. Charlotte.
  11. fcss
    Dec 25, 2021
    9
    I have to admit that listening to Charli or PC Music is not for everyone. It takes some time to get the essence of every album. How Im Feeling now its very personal, and Charli reveals a fragile side of her. What I love the most is the experimentation, and how artists dont give a damn to create something pleaseble or consumable. Its art, deal with it
  12. All_ButTrU4
    Nov 25, 2021
    7
    While not life-altering, how i’m feeling now is fun, fast and thoroughly listenable. It’s absorbing as a document from a strange period, and its diaristic, vloggy aspects provide an intriguing peek into artistry under pressure.
  13. Jackson777
    Oct 11, 2021
    6
    Electronic pop nonsense. Decent but nothing special, although sonically the production is better than many, many pop albums.
  14. synthnymph
    Sep 28, 2021
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Frankly speaking, “how i’m feeling now” became my reference point for listening to the hyperpop stuff. This album has already changed my worldview because of its independence, uniqueness, frivolity and exceptionalism. This artwork encompasses almost all problems that the modern humanity faces when the crisis usually starts: love, hate, the problem of our future, the meaning of art, its destiny, the culture of consumerism and etc. The glimpse of all those questions is reflected in every single song of the album.
    Surely, this album is actually about 2020 when everyone has been sitting at home for a year straight without any serious contacts with anyone outside.
    The bad side of the quarantine is perfectly shown in the song called “Anthems”. The name, i reckon, is not accidental. This is the hymn of 2020. The loud, toxic, hypertrophic atmosphere of the track makes us want to dance, feel the difficulties of being isolated from everyone. It is one of the most inspiring compositions in HIMFN.
    Except dancing songs there are plenty of compositions that are urged to demonstrate the power of the cybernetic future and the futurism itself. “Claws” is the track that made me feel supremely thrilled for the first time in a while. The “spherical” autotune chorus transfers you into another dimension, the sound makes your bones “levitate” and your brain overwhelm. The harmony Charli creates in the beginning rapidly becomes chaotic. The end of the track represents the chaos that always follows the harmony within our society.
    But there are songs that are not impressive enough for me. For instance, “forever” uses some weird noises in the background to construct the atmosphere of “losing the signals”. Of course, the lyrics and the meaning of the song are quite harmonious and eloquent, but those noises actually spoil all the emotions you get from the song. C2.0 is another song that made me quite furious in the first place. But after listening to it a couple of times I “finally understand” why Charli uses those pretty annoying sounds. C.2.0 tries to convince us that every single chaos is capable of being overcome. Even if you don’t see the perfection in the beginning it doesn’t mean that the perfection doesn’t exist at all. That’s why it is vital to judge everything wisely and unconventionally. “Enemy” and “I finally understand” are quite boring songs in my humble opinion. Even though they have good lyrics the sound itself seems to be too traditional and conformal, that’s why i wouldn’t recommend you to listen to that.
    Summarising what has been said I just wanted to declare that “how i’m feeling now” by Charli XCX is the most courageous albums of 2020 I’ve ever seen in my entire life. Even though this album is created by Charli XCX herself (DIY-concept) this artwork sounds very innovative. Of course, avantpop and experimentalism are the things that usually don’t get a “good perception” by everyone, but still those artists precisely should have a chance to speak out.    … Expand
  15. arthurdepr
    May 15, 2021
    9
    happy 1 year anniversary! born iconic and forever will be ♥ charli really is the future of pop
  16. Chris182
    Apr 27, 2021
    4
    I never really like Charli's music but i did enjoy her last album for the most part. I thought i would like this one too since the I like the single Claws. Sadly this isnt the case and it is one of my least favorite albums of 2020.
    Best songs: Claws, Detonate, enemy, i finally understand
    Worst Songs: Party 4 U, Pink Diamond, c2.0
  17. felipenasty
    Mar 23, 2021
    10
    Legend⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️
  18. valentinsr
    Mar 15, 2021
    10
    An incredible album, Charli really did that and the concept for "how I'm feeling now" was really good
  19. boondocks
    Jan 7, 2021
    8
    Another great futuristic album from Charli XCX but this time taking it in a slightly different direction. This album feels darker and sounds more experimental than her last album. The best tracks are "pink diamond", "claws", "detonate", "c2.0", and "anthems".
  20. Broyax
    Jan 3, 2021
    2
    Avertissement : des éléments putophobes sont présents dans cette critique ; âmes sensibles et autres Caliméro SJW, s’abstenir !

    Bon, c’est pas que j’écoute souvent de la musique à vrai dire, car je n’ai pas le temps ni l’envie d’en écouter parce que c’est trop souvent une perte de temps et que le temps, c’est de l’argent. Et l’argent, ça coûte du pognon ! Mais là à force de voir    Avertissement : des éléments putophobes sont présents dans cette critique ; âmes sensibles et autres Caliméro SJW, s’abstenir !

    Bon, c’est pas que j’écoute souvent de la musique à vrai dire, car je n’ai pas le temps ni l’envie d’en écouter parce que c’est trop souvent une perte de temps et que le temps, c’est de l’argent. Et l’argent, ça coûte du pognon ! Mais là à force de voir régulièrement cet album et notamment la pochette de cet album (notamment sur Metacritic parce que j’y vais pas mal) je me décide à écouter l’album et découvre que ce n’est pas aussi désatreux que je m’y attendais. Même si je m’attendais… à rien à dire vrai.

    Mais revenons à la pochette et donc à la « chanteuse »… chanteuse, vraiment ? c’est pour ça que j’ai mis les guillemets : « chanteuse ». Parce que si t’appelles ça « chanter », moi je suis un putain d’astronaute ! en route vers Mars. Ah oui mais donc, ne mettons pas la grue avant le beauf : cette pochette franchement… elle attire l’attention et le regard, elle devrait attirer les féministes également, non ?

    C’est en effet une pochette de pétasse, prostipute et prostipouffiasse. Et puta en espagnol, putana en italien. Bref, ce qu’on appelle une « attention whore ». Et donc, qu’est-ce quelle fait avec sa caméra, est-ce qu’elle nous prépare un bon porno ou un gonzo bien crado ? ou entre les deux, une « sex tape » pour relancer sa carrière, peut-être ?

    M’enfin bon, sa « musique » reste très orientée electro (ce qui n’est pas si mal) mais très commerciale aussi, très proche, trop proche du genre des autres pétasses qui remuent leur boule dans des clips plus ou moins prétentieux et graveleux. Et vulgaires. Sa « voix » qui abuse des effets (métallisés) a un air bling-bling et globalement peu mélodieux…

    Alors, la conclusion ou la morale est la suivante : l’habit fait le moine, je suppose… la voix fait la pétasse et vice et versa. Cela étant, quelques arrangements sont presque comestibles (malgré leur répétition) dans cet album : c’est pour ça que je mets 2. Quand même.    … Expand
  21. asdeerty
    Dec 26, 2020
    10
    Es muy dificil arriesgarse a hacer un álbum en pandemia basado en la cuarentena, y Charli XCX sabe perfectamente como hacer hyperpop de manera correcta y rápida, sin falta de tiempo. Se evidencia mucho como su sonido ha madurado y se ha conmemorado en lo que es en este álbum. Muy experimental pero nunca tanto como para hacerlo incómodo.
  22. clem666
    Dec 15, 2020
    8
    Charli XCX made here a ballsy bet. This is the first album I saw and came out during this whole covid-thing. This was only produced and composed during these periods of quarantaine. After 5 weeks of work, Charli gives us a memorable album far from we usually hear from her.

    This project is both savage and emo and that's a miracle. It is surely not for everyone but once you get aboard you    Charli XCX made here a ballsy bet. This is the first album I saw and came out during this whole covid-thing. This was only produced and composed during these periods of quarantaine. After 5 weeks of work, Charli gives us a memorable album far from we usually hear from her.

    This project is both savage and emo and that's a miracle. It is surely not for everyone but once you get aboard you can't disembark easily. Even if I found some songs really not harmonious the artist compensated it with strong lyrics. We can thank Dylan Brady (from 100 gecs) to help Charli XCX produce 3 tracks of this interesting album. This one is the very first steps of an impressive turn of events in the career of the artist who chooses to get more in touch with this rough electro style. Less pop, more electro. Less common grounds, more introversion.    … Expand
  23. vitortfv
    Dec 5, 2020
    7
    pink diamond - 6,5/10
    forever - 7/10
    claws - 8/10
    7 years - 8/10
    detonate - 7/10
    enemy - 7,5/10
    i finally understand - 6,7/10
    c2.0 - 8/10
    party 4 u - 8,5/10
    anthems - 8/10
    visions - 7,5/10
  24. noinguyen
    Dec 1, 2020
    8
    Charli XCX's "how i'm feeling now" is the best quarantine anthem.

    Favorite tracks: pink diamond, forever, claws, detonate, anthems, visions
    Least favorite tracks: c2.0
  25. Sadeeedwards
    Nov 26, 2020
    5
    I wasn't sure what to expect from Charli, but this was definitely unique. I found myself having "claws" and "enemy" on repeat, unfortunately the only songs. The album was way too much, over production. Very messy, I wish it were better.
  26. AmadorLorenzo
    Oct 18, 2020
    9
    A nostalgic bomb in a box, the perfect gift for these pandemic times; Charli explored her intimacy and I feel this is how it sounds inside.
  27. Simao
    Oct 1, 2020
    8
    i owe charli my life for releasing such a fun album during these times.... like the cover art and some of the songs and honestly the album as a whole may not be the best according to charli standards,, but the way she built this out of nothing and so swiftly and saved us from a trash year...

    how i’m feeling now has a handful of VERY good songs!! some of these go real **** hard!!! but as    i owe charli my life for releasing such a fun album during these times.... like the cover art and some of the songs and honestly the album as a whole may not be the best according to charli standards,, but the way she built this out of nothing and so swiftly and saved us from a trash year...

    how i’m feeling now has a handful of VERY good songs!! some of these go real **** hard!!! but as a whole this is not a pop2.... and honestly i wasn’t expecting that according to the conditions under which it was made....

    but for a 1/2 month project this is a really good and fun mixtape!! full of new and very interesting sounds and lyrics strongly referring to the times we’re living right now.

    fav song: anthems
    least fav: i finally understand    … Expand
  28. Masterheart
    Sep 1, 2020
    9
    Felicidades a Charli XCX por darnos el mejor álbum dentro de una cuarentena de este año, es muy increíble lo que nos acaba de dar
  29. aabortus
    Aug 31, 2020
    8
    another great album from charli xcx, this will probably be a top 10 album of this year again.
  30. renangonc_
    Jun 10, 2020
    9
    Charli XCX foi visionária neste álbum. Letras que refletem os sentimentos e emoções seus e de seus ouvintes diante da pandemia.
    Melodias que fazem sentido, musicalidade perfeita. Atual, que reflete sua perspicácia.
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Awards & Rankings

31
#31 Most Discussed Album of 2020

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
82

Universal acclaim - based on 18 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 18
  3. Negative: 0 out of 18
  1. Paste Magazine
    Oct 19, 2023
    85
    While how i’m feeling now is by no means Charli’s most genre-pushing work, nor an indication of the creative potential she has left, it will be remembered as a quintessential 2020 album—not just because of its unique recording constraints, but because of the passion, authenticity and work ethic interwoven in every fuzzy beat and every sprightly, lovelorn lilt of Charli’s most intimate vocal work to date.
    Read full review
  2. The Observer (UK)
    Oct 19, 2023
    80
    If these songs are more off the cuff than before, nothing here sounds unprofessional. Some lyrics have not exactly been sweated-over – “I love you forever, even when we’re not together,” goes Forever – but they chime with people feeling acutely separated from loved ones.
    Read full review
  3. The Quietus
    May 29, 2020
    80
    While not life-altering, how i’m feeling now is fun, fast and thoroughly listenable. It’s absorbing as a document from a strange period, and its diaristic, vloggy aspects provide an intriguing peek into artistry under pressure.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »