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Alt.Latino: Chicano soul, Canary Islands merengue and a percussion supergroup Feb 25, 2026

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This week on Alt.Latino, it's another new music episode with a global panorama: Canary Islands merengue, Chicano soul, Afro-Brazilian roots and more. Plus, a percussion supergroup that Felix could listen to for hours.
Featured artists and albums:
(00:00) Introduction
(01:05) Quevedo, 'NI BORRACHO'
(05:12) Joey Quiñones, 'In a Soul Situation'
(12:34) Carolina Mama, 'Amina'
(15:41) Elipsis, 'Elipsis'
(19:32) Da Cruz, 'Som Sistema'
(23:56) Sofía Rei, 'Antónima'
This podcast episode was produced by Noah Caldwell. Suraya Mohamed is the executive producer of NPR Music.
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All Songs Considered: U2 meets the moment, Lana Del Rey goes 'True Detective,' James Blake croons Feb 24, 2026

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This week on All Songs Considered: U2 surprise-dropped a new EP that opens with a scorching critique of the government crackdown on immigration; Lana Del Rey inched closer toward releasing her long-awaited album with a haunting and strange ode to love and obsession, while singer Arlo Parks takes a bold step out onto the dance floor. All that and more as host Robin Hilton and NPR Music’s Sheldon Pearce share their picks for the best new songs of the week.
Featured artists and songs:
(00:00) Intro
(01:50) U2: “American Obituary,” from ‘Days Of Ash’
(10:24) Arlo Parks: “Heaven,” from ‘Ambiguous Desire’
(17:37) Lana Del Rey: “White Feather Hawk Tail Deer Hunter” (Single)
(25:22) Baby Rose & Leon Thomas: “Friends Again” (Single)
(31:58) James Blake: “I Had a Dream She Took My Hand,” from ‘Trying Times’
(39:08) Bella Kay: “Steady,” from ‘a couple minutes out’
And here's a link to Sheldon's piece on Jill Scott and Brent Faiyaz that was discussed during the show's intro: https://www.npr.org/2026/02/19/nx-s1-5713600/jill-scott-brent-faiyaz-rnb-review
Support the show with a review on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. And tell a friend!
Questions, comments, suggestions or feedback of any kind always welcome: allsongs@npr.org
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Special announcement Feb 21, 2026

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Host Robin Hilton shares an update about some cosmetic changes coming to the 'All Songs Considered' podcast feed.
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New Music Friday: The best albums out Feb. 20 Feb 20, 2026

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WILLOW. Altin Gün. Fugazi alumni smashing punk into jazz. NPR Music's Stephen Thompson is joined by Evan Miller from WYSO in Yellow Springs, Ohio to chat about their favorite albums out Friday, Feb. 20.
The Starting 5
(00:00) Introduction & WILLOW, 'petal rock black'
(03:29) Pekka Kuusisto, 'Willows'
(08:59) Manu Delago & Max ZT, 'Deuce'
(16:21) The Messthetics & James Brandon Lewis, 'Deface The Currency'
(21:29) Hen Ogledd, 'DISCOMBOBULATED'
(27:19) Altin Gün, 'Garip'
(32:41) The Lightning Round
- Megan Moroney, 'Cloud 9'
- Chris Forsyth's WHAT IS NOW, 'Both / And'
- Choker, 'Heaven Ain't Sold'
- MX LONELY, 'ALL MONSTERS'
- Mumford & Sons, 'Prizefighter'
Sample the albums via our New Music Friday playlist on NPR.org/allsongs
Credits:
Host: Stephen Thompson
Guest: Evan Miller, WYSO
Audio Producer: Noah Caldwell
Digital Producer: Dora Levite
Editors: Otis Hart, Elle Mannion
Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed
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Alt.Latino: A Brazilian summer and a lost Mexican masterpiece Feb 18, 2026

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So, I was away for a bit and the new music just piled up during the holidays, and while we were watching Bad Bunny make headlines at the Grammys and the Super Bowl. Our first new music episode of the new year has quite a variety of styles from lots of different countries. We could say that about just about every new music show we produce. But what are we to do when the amount of creativity that comes our way pretty much overwhelms us? Jump in for a summertime journey through the many sounds of Brazil, a fusion of indigenous and contemporary styles, and a lost relic of Mexican rock from the 1970s.
- Felix
Artists and albums:
(00:00) Introduction
(01:20) Amaro Freitas, Criolo, and Dino D'Santiago, 'CRIOLO, AMARO E DINO'
(09:19) Javier Jara, 'Our Rhythms, Our Voices'
(13:19) Infinito Latente, 'Sem Início Nem Fim'
(19:19) Ernan Roch Con Las Voces Frescas, 'La Onda Pesada'
(24:52) João Menezes & Paulo Novaes, 'Coisa Híbrida'
(30:02) Líber Terán, 'Canciones Del Desierto'
This podcast episode was produced by Noah Caldwell. The executive producer of NPR Music is Suraya Mohamed.
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Andrew Bird on ‘The Pitt,’ Gia Margaret and more of the best new songs Feb 17, 2026

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If you watch HBO’s The Pitt, you might have heard the gorgeous new song called “Need Someone” that Andrew Bird wrote for a recent episode. We’ve got that on this week’s show along with reflections on fitting in by letting go, from Gia Margaret and Ratboys; shoegaze from Draag, the twitchy glitchy sounds of Mandy, Indiana and more.
NPR Music’s Dora Levite joins host Robin Hilton to share the best new songs they’re obsessing over this week.
Featured songs and artists:
(00:00) Intro
(02:18) Draag: “Finding Fear,” from ‘Miracle Drug’
(09:35) Mandy, Indiana: “Try Saying,” from ‘Urgh’
(14:59) Andrew Bird: “Need Someone” (single as featured in ‘The Pitt’)
(20:38) Ratboys: “Open Up,” from ‘Singin’ To An Empty Chair’
(28:49) Gia Margaret: “Everyone Around Me Dancing,” from ‘Singing’
(35:30) By Storm: “Can I Have You For Myself,” from ‘My Ghost Go Ghost’
Support the show with a review on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. And tell a friend!
Questions, comments, suggestions or feedback of any kind always welcome: allsongs@npr.org
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New Music Friday: The best albums out Feb. 13 Feb 13, 2026

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August Ponthier. Brent Faiyaz. Jill Scott's first album in more than a decade. NPR Music's Stephen Thompson is joined by Nastia Voynovskaya from KQED in San Francisco to chat about their favorite albums out Friday, Feb. 13.
The Starting 5
(00:00) Introduction & Charli xcx, 'Wuthering Heights'
(03:06) August Ponthier, 'Everywhere Isn't Texas'
(09:38) Brent Faiyaz, 'Icon'
(15:29) Jill Scott, 'To Whom This May Concern'
(21:09) STAYC, 'Stay Alive'
(25:57) The Paranoid Style, 'Known Associates'
(32:01) The Lightning Round:
- The Olympians, 'In Search of a Revival'
- Hemlocke Springs, 'the apple tree under the sea'
- Neba Solo & Benego Diakité, 'A Djinn and a Hunter Went Walking (The Complete Sessions)'
- Aaron Shaw, 'And So It Is'
- Ásgeir, 'Julia'
Sample the albums via our New Music Friday playlist on NPR.org/allsongs
Credits:
Host: Stephen Thompson
Guest: Nastia Voynovskaya, KQED
Audio Producer: Noah Caldwell
Digital Producer: Dora Levite
Editors: Otis Hart, Elle Mannion
Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed
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Alt.Latino: Puerto Rico takes the field at the Bad Bunny Super Bowl Feb 11, 2026

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Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime show was many things: a time-traveling journey through the history of Puerto Rico, a statement of pan-American unity, and a masterpiece of cultural expression. This week, co-hosts Felix Contreras and Anamaria Sayre are joined by Isabella Gomez Sarmiento — who brings on-the-ground reporting from San Juan — to unpack the symbolism embedded in Bad Bunny's performance.
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Why everyone is still talking about Geese Feb 10, 2026

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With the arrival of the Geese Tiny Desk, we thought we’d try to break down what it is about this band that has made them one of the most talked about and polarizing acts of the past six months.
Host Robin Hilton is joined by NPR Music's Ann Powers and host of The Ringer's Bandsplain podcast Yasi Salek to make sense of all the fuss. (Full disclosure: We all love Geese.)
Support the show with a review on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. And tell a friend!
Questions, comments, suggestions or feedback of any kind always welcome: allsongs@npr.org
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New Music Friday: The best albums out Feb. 6 Feb 06, 2026

Show notes

Ratboys. Beverly Glenn-Copeland. Caribou's club alter-ego. Stephen Thompson from NPR Music chats with Erin Wolf from Radio Milwaukee about their favorite new albums out Friday, Feb. 6.
The Starting 5
(00:00) Introduction & J. Cole, 'The Fall Off'
(02:11) Ratboys, 'Singin' To An Empty Chair'
(08:27) Beverly Glenn-Copeland, 'Laughter In Summer'
(16:27) Daphni, 'Butterfly'
(21:22) Charlotte Day Wilson, 'Patchwork'
(26:39) John Craigie, 'I Swam Here'
(31:26) The Lightning Round
- Melissa Carper & Theo Lawrence, 'Havin' a Talk'
- Alice Costelloe, 'Move On With The Year'
- vegas water taxi, 'long time caller, first time listener'
- Ulrika Spacek, 'EXPO'
- Music City, 'Welcome to Music City'
Sample the albums via our New Music Friday playlist on NPR.org/allsongs.
Credits:
Host: Stephen Thompson
Guest: Erin Wolf, Radio Milwaukee
Audio Producer: Noah Caldwell
Digital Producer: Dora Levite
Editors: Otis Hart, Elle Mannion
Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed
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