NPR Music All Songs Considered: U2 meets the moment, Lana Del Rey goes 'True Detective,' James Blake croons
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Feb 24, 2026 U2 drops a surprise political-leaning EP with a fiery opener. Arlo Parks pivots toward dancefloor grooves and cinematic nightlife. Lana Del Rey offers a haunting, theatrical ode full of strange domestic imagery. James Blake blends time-bending orchestration with shifting moods. Intimate viral songwriting and soulful duets round out the week’s standout tracks.
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U2's Return Feels Like A Modern Protest Anthem
- U2 returned with a politically urgent anthem that feels like a protest chant targeting immigration crackdowns and state violence.
- Robin Hilton and Sheldon Pearce praise its direct, anthemic messaging and call it a rallying cry that re-energizes the band.
Arlo Parks Moves Into Club-Forward Intimacy
- Arlo Parks shifts toward club-forward, rhythmic pop while keeping her lyrical intimacy and imagery intact.
- 'Heaven' balances nightlife bass drops with lines like "Diet Coke and kitten heels," marrying ecstasy and poetic small details.
Lana Del Rey Crafts An Unsettling Americana Soliloquy
- Lana Del Rey continues to unsettle by mixing nostalgic Americana with surreal musical-theater flourishes.
- 'White Feather Hawk Tail Deer Hunter' reads like a haunted 40s/50s soliloquy about domestic obsession and ambiguous devotion.