Ann Powers

Country Music's Year Of The Woman

Ann Powers — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 09:19:00 +0000

Sometimes, it can be difficult to notice a cultural sea change. At first, there's just a little, unexpected turn in the tide. But then, whoosh! The new current takes over, and old preconceptions are swept away.

Lessons From SXSW 2013: Take The Middle Road

Ann Powers — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 15:48:00 +0000

That guy Prince has a sense of humor.

Listening To My Bloody Valentine Three Ways

Ann Powers — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 20:50:00 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBKjhgHGVZs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUc5y1NljXI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HhSS1hUUjQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6oXJus1ajIU

Go See The Old Guys

Ann Powers — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 20:53:00 +0000

Neil Young made me write this. Before last Thursday, when ol' Shakey and his golden garage band Crazy Horse stomped through my local amphitheater, the last thing I'd thought I'd be excited about was a bunch of guys hovering around 70, playing loud rock and roll into the night.

Tori Amos On Her Muses, Her Song Girls And Her Father

Ann Powers — Wed, 17 Oct 2012 15:31:00 +0000

Two weeks ago, the inimitable Tori Amos played an intimate show at Le Poisson Rouge in New York City, accompanied by a string octet, in celebration of the release of her retrospective album Gold Dust.

Why Some Musicians Last

Ann Powers — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 20:37:00 +0000
The mists of eternity wafted over my Twitter feed the other night. Okay, not quite — but talk of eternity, or at least of the pop scene in thirty years, did make for a lengthy and spirited group exchange. It started when a friend who's not fond of singing competitions asked whether Kelly Clarkson will be remembered in 2042.

Antony's 'Future Feminism': Stage Banter As Statement Of Purpose

Ann Powers — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 16:18:00 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npyAImVa7qw

On Bob Dylan And Jonah Lehrer, Two Fabulists

Ann Powers — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 11:21:00 +0000
Yesterday my husband and I had the same thought at the same time. It's not an uncommon occurrence for two writers who've spent decades arguing and enthusing about pop music. I mention it, in part, to stave off accusations that I'm plagiarizing from a nearby source, but also because I think what we reflected upon in light of the writer Jonah Lehrer's fatal mistake was probably in the minds of many music obsessives.

Springsteen's American Dream, Beautiful And Bleak

Ann Powers — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 00:06:00 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYriU4bhW7I

Afghan Whigs: Songs Of Love Gone Wrong, Done Right

Ann Powers — Fri, 25 May 2012 18:17:00 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mE0I6flzGQ