Ann Powers

Don't Kill Your Idols: J. Cole Looks For His Place In Hip-Hop

Ann Powers — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 16:57:00 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7AjD7nKiUQ4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-vQ_VsTkn0

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

The Roots Of Beyonce's Super Bowl Spectacular

Ann Powers — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 15:41:00 +0000

One of the Twitter hashtags devised by rabid Beyonce fans before last night's Super Bowl halftime show was religious in nature: #praisebeysus. Praise Beysus! This bit of hyperventilating resonated in interesting ways. Strutting into the very center of America's biggest television spectacle, the 31-year-old superstar intended to secure her place in the musical pantheon next to recent Super Bowl-approved legends Madonna, The Who, Bruce Springsteen and Prince.

And that's not all.

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.

'Nashville' Duets: Voices In Harmony And Conflict

Ann Powers — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 20:20:00 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWrSg5znyMU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gb4nmz529pE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4r-VwSRzXbk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQW7I62TNOw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5axlwCBXC8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKIegJH7Mdc

For The Ladies: R. Kelly, Teddy Pendergrass And The State Of R&B

Ann Powers — Thu, 18 Oct 2012 18:44:00 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WeBdqeQ1-l8

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.