9 New Albums You Should Listen to Now: Baby Keem, Hen Ogledd, and Hilary Duff

Pitchfork

by Hattie Lindert, Jazz Monroe

February 20, 2026

AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary

Pitchfork’s latest round of new music recommendations highlights four standout albums across diverse genres. From Baby Keem’s reflective and family-inspired *Ca$ino* to Hen Ogledd’s genre-blending *Discombobulated*, these releases showcase the range and depth of contemporary music. Hilary Duff’s return with *Luck…or Something* marks a mature evolution of her pop roots, while The Messthetics and James Brandon Lewis deliver an electrifying collaboration on *Deface the Currency*. These albums cater to a wide audience, offering fresh sounds for fans of alternative, jazz, synthpop, and pop-rock. Baby Keem’s *Ca$ino* is a deeply personal reflection on his journey from Carson, California, to Las Vegas. The album, featuring a guest appearance from Kendrick Lamar, explores themes of generational struggle and resilience. Lamar highlights the shared familial and cultural challenges they face, painting a vivid picture of their collective experience. Despite Keem’s young age, the album feels weighted with introspection, capturing his evolution as an artist and individual. Hen Ogledd’s *Discombobulated* is a boundary-pushing synthpop masterpiece. Richard Dawson and friends craft a soundscape that shifts seamlessly between post-punk odysseys and ambient lullabies, incorporating spoken-word performances by Matana Roberts. The album serves as both a creative outlet and a political commentary, addressing the misuse of language and power in modern society. Its whimsical yet thought-provoking approach keeps listeners engaged, offering a blend of experimentalism and critique that feels fresh and relevant. Hilary Duff’s *Luck…or Something* marks her first album since 2013, continuing her evolution from teen pop

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Originally published on Pitchfork on 2/20/2026