The album combines the beauty and intelligence of his best earlier work with a new quality: warmth, generosity, possibly even contentment. I find it more moving than anything he's released in a long time.

— The New Yorker (US), 15 Oct. 2015

But the sizable majority of Fast Forward finds Joe Jackson in excellent form [...] If this isn't quite up to the standards of his '80s high-water marks like Night and Day and Big World, it comes close enough that longtime fans will find plenty to enjoy, and some bits that will challenge them.

— AllMusic, 1 Oct. 2015

The New York quarter is closest in sound to his Night and Day period, with nimble piano playing, inventive melodies and his penchant for furrowing his brow and trying to work out the human condition in a pop song. [...] Joe's still got juice. (3.5 / 4)

— Sydney Morning Herald (AU), 20 Nov. 2015

A few more uptempo numbers would have helped, but that's been the case with much of his work over the past 25 years. Regardless, Fast Forward is an experiment that works well and shows Jackson's typical musical restlessness is aging well.

— Ultimate Classic Rock, 2 Oct. 2015

Further reviews:

• Audio (DE), Nov. 2015
• Stereoplay (DE), Nov. 2015
• Good Times (DE), Oct./Nov. 2015