All Songs Considered

New Music Friday: The best albums out Feb. 27

February 27, 2026

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  • The February 27th 'New Music Friday' release date was exceptionally 'stacked' with major albums from artists like Bruno Mars, Mitski, and Gorillaz. 
  • Mitski's new album, 'Nothing's About to Happen to Me,' blends her recent orchestral sound with her original rock/garage band style, exploring themes of isolation and external expectations influenced by Shirley Jackson's work. 
  • The episode featured a 'Lightning Round' where NPR Music writers and critics highlighted diverse picks, including the long-awaited return of Austin's Voxtrot and the highly personal, career-best album from Philadelphia's Nothing, 'A Short History of Decay,' which addresses frontman Nikki Palermo's essential tremors. 

Segments

Introduction and Bruno Mars
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(00:00:23)
  • Key Takeaway: Bruno Mars’ new album, ‘The Romantic,’ is highly anticipated, marking his first solo album since 2016, with the single ‘I Just Might’ debuting at number one globally.
  • Summary: Host Robin Hilton is joined by Raina Douris from WXPN to cover the New Music Friday releases for February 27th. Bruno Mars’ album ‘The Romantic’ was kept under wraps, but the shared single ‘I Just Might’ is described as boppy, groovy, and retro, continuing his established successful style. The album is expected to feature deep grooves and nostalgia, following his 2021 Silk Sonic project.
Analyzing Mitski’s New Work
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(00:04:15)
  • Key Takeaway: Mitski’s ‘Nothing’s About to Happen to Me’ merges orchestral arrangements with a garage band sound, exploring themes of isolation and the tension between public expectation and interior life.
  • Summary: Mitski’s new album follows her 2023 release, ‘The Land is Inhospitable, and So Are We,’ bringing back orchestral elements. The opening track, ‘In a Lake,’ shifts from a folk vibe to a show-tuned Broadway turn with ambient street sounds. The record is influenced by Shirley Jackson’s ‘We Have Always Lived in the Castle,’ examining themes of isolation and the pressure placed on women’s narratives, as seen in the song ‘Dead Women.’
Gorillaz’s Global Meditation
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(00:09:59)
  • Key Takeaway: Gorillaz’s album ‘The Mountain’ is an epic, sprawling work inspired by a trip to India and shaped by the recent deaths of Damon Albarn’s and Jamie Hewlett’s fathers.
  • Summary: Gorillaz’s new album, ‘The Mountain,’ is described as having a global sound, akin to the band’s ‘White Album,’ meditating on life and death. The creation process was heavily influenced by a trip to India and surrounding personal loss, leading to themes of seeking higher truths. The album features an extensive guest list, including Anusha Shankar and posthumous features from artists like Bobby Womack and Tony Allen, whose identities are allowed to shine through their tracks.
Heavenly’s Twee Pop Return
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(00:17:08)
  • Key Takeaway: British band Heavenly, pioneers of the twee pop sound, have returned after a 30-year hiatus with ‘Highway to Heavenly,’ wrapping heavy lyrical topics in light, catchy music.
  • Summary: Heavenly’s new album, ‘Highway to Heavenly,’ comes 30 years after their last release, marking a significant return for the band that helped invent the 90s twee pop aesthetic. The music is described as quirky, homemade, and reminiscent of 90s Athens, Georgia bands like the B-52’s. Despite the glittering, airy sound, tracks address heavy subjects like toxic masculinity and sexual assault, contrasting the light music with serious lyrical content.
Voxtrot’s Long-Awaited Sophomore Album
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(00:22:38)
  • Key Takeaway: Austin band Voxtrot released their sophomore album, ‘Dreamers in Exile,’ nearly two decades after their 2007 debut, featuring 80s indie rock sounds reflecting frontman Ramesh Srivastava’s accumulated life experience.
  • Summary: Voxtrot’s ‘Dreamers in Exile’ is their second full-length album, arriving almost 20 years after their debut. The music retains an 80s college rock feel, but the themes are more reflective and wistful, dealing with aging and the passage of time. Frontman Ramesh Srivastava sings about personal experiences, such as working as a courier after the band initially broke up, providing a mature thematic depth.
Nothing’s Honest and Accomplished Album
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(00:29:51)
  • Key Takeaway: Nothing’s album ‘A Short History of Decay’ is considered their most nuanced, honest, and musically accomplished work, directly addressing frontman Nikki Palermo’s struggle with Essential Tremors.
  • Summary: Philadelphia band Nothing returned after six years with ‘A Short History of Decay,’ an album deeply informed by frontman Nikki Palermo’s diagnosis of Essential Tremors. Palermo intentionally left the tremor in his voice on the closing track to be heard, reflecting the physical and verbal struggles detailed throughout. The album balances heavy emotional complexity, including reflections on an abusive father, with moments of softer vulnerability and powerful shoegaze soundscapes.
Lightning Round Picks
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(00:35:40)
  • Key Takeaway: NPR Music staff highlighted several notable releases, including Buck Meek’s introspective ‘The Mirror,’ Maria BC’s textured ‘Marathon,’ Bill Callahan’s joyful ‘My Days of 58,’ GENA’s modern hip-hop soul debut, and Sarah Kirkland Snider’s orchestral work ‘Forward Into Light.’
  • Summary: Buck Meek’s album ‘The Mirror’ was praised for its tender, introspective lyricism recorded in a quiet, natural setting. Maria BC’s ‘Marathon’ is a stunning, meditative release blending intense drone tracks with folk elements. Bill Callahan’s ‘My Days of 58’ is a joyful, deeply human reflection on turning 58. GENA, a duo featuring Live and Kareem Riggins, delivered a futuristic yet throwback hip-hop soul debut. Finally, Tom Heisinger recommended Sarah Kirkland Snider’s orchestral piece ‘Forward Into Light,’ inspired by American women suffragists.