All Songs Considered

New Music Friday: The best albums out Feb. 20

February 20, 2026

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  • The episode of "All Songs Considered," "New Music Friday: The best albums out Feb. 20," focuses heavily on left-field music, including classical, punk, jazz, and Turkish psychedelic rock, while also noting major releases from WILLOW and Baby Keem. 
  • WILLOW's new album, 'petal rock black,' is highlighted for its inventive fusion of accessible pop with left-field sounds, featuring guests like Toon Yards and Kamasi Washington, despite dropping outside the typical release schedule. 
  • Guest Evan Miller of WYSO is perfectly suited for discussing the episode's focus, as he hosts an experimental music program called 'The Outside' and WYSO is preparing to move into new studios after decades on the Antioch College campus. 

Segments

Introduction and WILLOW Album
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(00:00:26)
  • Key Takeaway: WILLOW’s new album, ‘petal rock black,’ is unusually short at 26 minutes across 12 songs, showcasing her facility for fusing pop with left-field sounds.
  • Summary: The episode of “All Songs Considered,” “New Music Friday: The best albums out Feb. 20,” kicks off with WILLOW’s album, which dropped on a Tuesday. The record features guests like Toon Yards and George Clinton and includes a cover of Prince’s ‘I Would Die for You.’ The album is noted for its inventive arrangements, funky grooves, and brevity.
Other Major Releases Mentioned
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(00:03:15)
  • Key Takeaway: Rapper Baby Keem released a new album today, ‘Casino’ (with a dollar sign for ‘S’), which was not made available for advance listening by the label.
  • Summary: Besides WILLOW, the rapper Baby Keem’s new album, ‘Casino’ (spelled with a dollar sign), is noted as one of the week’s biggest releases. The hosts state they will focus primarily on left-field music for the main discussion.
Pekka Kuusisto’s ‘Willows’
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(00:03:52)
  • Key Takeaway: Pekka Kuusisto’s album ‘Willows’ blends Finnish traditional music with contemporary classical works by composers like Caroline Shaw and Ellen Reed, featuring folk singer Sam Amadon.
  • Summary: Finnish violinist Pekka Kuusisto’s album ‘Willows’ features collaborations spanning classical and folk music, including a piece dedicated to his late brother, Yako. The album highlights Caroline Shaw’s composition ‘Plan and Elevation’ and features folk arrangements by Nico Muley with singer Sam Amadon.
Manu DeLago & Max ZT’s ‘Deuce’
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(00:09:15)
  • Key Takeaway: Manu DeLago (hand pan) and Max ZT (hammered dulcimer) recorded ‘Deuce’ in a 13th-century Austrian monastery, creating a radiant pairing of ancient and modern percussion.
  • Summary: Max ZT, hailed by NPR as the ‘Jimi Hendrix of the Hammered Dulcimer,’ collaborates with Austrian musician Manu DeLago on this record. The album pairs the ancient hammered dulcimer with the relatively new hand pan instrument, resulting in soft, lyrical percussion.
WYSO Station Update
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(00:17:01)
  • Key Takeaway: WYSO in Yellow Springs, Ohio, is preparing to move into new studios, marking its first location off the Antioch College campus since its founding in the 1950s.
  • Summary: Evan Miller hosts the midday music show and the experimental program ‘The Outside’ at WYSO. The station also runs an all-music channel called Novaphonic.fm. The move is expected in the spring.
The Messthetics & James Brandon Lewis
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(00:18:34)
  • Key Takeaway: The Messthetics, featuring Fugazi alumni, fuse their established punk-jazz sound with saxophonist James Brandon Lewis on ‘Deface The Currency,’ creating a true genre fusion.
  • Summary: This is the second album for the quartet, which includes Fugazi members Joe Lawley and Brandon Canty. The music effortlessly shifts between blistering free jazz improvisation and straight-ahead punk modes. Tracks like the title track and ‘Universal Security’ demonstrate this dynamic range.
Hen Ogledd’s ‘Discombobulated’
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(00:23:36)
  • Key Takeaway: Hen Ogledd mixes art pop, folk, psychedelia, and spoken word, using themes of ancient/modern mixing to deliver powerful lyrical messages about human rights and systemic collapse.
  • Summary: The band’s name references the Celtic region of the Old North, and their music blends traditional and avant-garde sounds, often featuring children’s voices. Tracks like ‘Scales Will Fall’ contain profound messaging despite the eccentric musical presentation.
Altin Gün’s ‘Garip’
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(00:29:54)
  • Key Takeaway: Dutch Turkish psychedelic band Altin Gün pays tribute to Turkish folk artist Neşet Ertaş on ‘Garip,’ moving toward a more organic sound while retaining expansive psychedelic arrangements.
  • Summary: The album exclusively features music from the late Turkish folk artist Neşet Ertaş, using his song structures as a framework. The opening track, ‘Neradesin Sen,’ is described as a wild, barreling rock jam that evokes a smoky, undulating feeling.
Lightning Round Album Picks
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(00:35:40)
  • Key Takeaway: The lightning round highlights Megan Moroney’s pop-flecked country album ‘Cloud Nine,’ Chris Forsyth’s trio’s 20-minute jazz-rock jams, Choker’s return with ‘Heaven Ain’t Sold,’ and Mumford Sons’ quick follow-up ‘Prizefighter.’
  • Summary: Megan Moroney’s ‘Cloud Nine’ features guests Ed Sheeran and Kacey Musgraves. Chris Forsyth’s What Is Now released ‘Both / And,’ featuring improvisatory jams. Choker returns after a seven-year hiatus with ‘Heaven Ain’t Sold,’ and Mumford Sons released ‘Prizefighter’ less than a year after their comeback album.