Ann Powers
@annkpowers.bsky.social
I write about music things and things music at NPR and elsewhere. Latest book: TRAVELING: ON THE PATH OF JONI MITCHELL.
I'm watching Ponies bc I love both of those actresses to death... and I'm LOVING the needle drops. Tom Rush! The Alessi Brothers! This wild a capella version of "After the Gold Rush!" And I'm only one episode in. Meanwhile I need to know more about Prelude www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdbC...
After The Gold Rush , Prelude , 1974
YouTube video by Toni Davey
www.youtube.com
January 19, 2026 at 5:03 AM
I'm watching Ponies bc I love both of those actresses to death... and I'm LOVING the needle drops. Tom Rush! The Alessi Brothers! This wild a capella version of "After the Gold Rush!" And I'm only one episode in. Meanwhile I need to know more about Prelude www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdbC...
you shoulda been there. See the Prine film if you haven't, I saw it twice and cried both times! (Also laughed a lot)
[Sat cont'd...2/2]
• NO OTHER CHOICE 2:05pm 7:45pm 10:30pm
• YOU GOT GOLD: A CELEBRATION OF JOHN PRINE 2:10pm 7:20pm* (*post-screening discussion with Fiona Prine, moderated by music journalist Ann Powers)
• HAMNET 4:30pm
> bit.ly/Belcourt-Films
• NO OTHER CHOICE 2:05pm 7:45pm 10:30pm
• YOU GOT GOLD: A CELEBRATION OF JOHN PRINE 2:10pm 7:20pm* (*post-screening discussion with Fiona Prine, moderated by music journalist Ann Powers)
• HAMNET 4:30pm
> bit.ly/Belcourt-Films
January 19, 2026 at 4:50 AM
you shoulda been there. See the Prine film if you haven't, I saw it twice and cried both times! (Also laughed a lot)
The internet agrees: this is an essential critical assessment of Bob Marley's legend and of LEGEND, the album that fomented it
I wrote many words about the greatest hits compilation Legend by Bob Marley
pitchfork.com/reviews/albu...
pitchfork.com/reviews/albu...
Bob Marley & the Wailers: Legend
Read Eric Harvey’s review of the album
pitchfork.com
January 18, 2026 at 6:05 PM
The internet agrees: this is an essential critical assessment of Bob Marley's legend and of LEGEND, the album that fomented it
THIS IS EXCITING
A new restoration of Erich von Stroheim’s unfinished 1929 drama “Queen Kelly” spotlights his reckless directorial career, which, though brief, is monumental, Richard Brody writes. www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...
Erich von Stroheim’s Spectacular Art Is Back
A new restoration of Stroheim’s unfinished 1929 drama “Queen Kelly” spotlights his reckless directorial career, which, though brief, is one of the greatest of all.
www.newyorker.com
January 17, 2026 at 8:34 PM
THIS IS EXCITING
In which I make some SWEEPING GENERALIZATIONS about my Seattle home town
It's "Such Great Heights" day on All Songs+, my NPR Music podcast series with @annkpowers.bsky.social.
Listen/Subscribe:
www.npr.org/2026/01/14/n...
Listen/Subscribe:
www.npr.org/2026/01/14/n...
January 15, 2026 at 8:35 PM
In which I make some SWEEPING GENERALIZATIONS about my Seattle home town
the future of journalism
Condé Nast forgot to renew the trademark for Gourmet and so a group of journalists grabbed it and are relaunching the food magazine as a worker-owned co-op. Love it. [gourmetmagazine.net]
Gourmet Magazine
Gourmet is a worker-owned publication about food and the people who make and consume it.
gourmetmagazine.net
January 13, 2026 at 7:53 PM
the future of journalism
Great writing about an indelible song
"A song like this, built of stories and theories and wild conjecture, means everything to those who hear it day after day." ICYMI, new @pastemagazine.bsky.social column started yesterday, about working in a grocery sore in the 90s, and Toadies "Possum Kingdom"
www.pastemagazine.com/music/alt-ro...
www.pastemagazine.com/music/alt-ro...
The eternal offering of Toadies’ “Possum Kingdom”
Paste Magazine is your source for the best music, movies, TV, comedy, videogames, books, comics, craft beer, politics and more. Discover your favorite albums and films.
www.pastemagazine.com
January 11, 2026 at 7:24 AM
Great writing about an indelible song
Goodbye to a legend and the greatest shorts wearer of all time
January 11, 2026 at 12:19 AM
Goodbye to a legend and the greatest shorts wearer of all time
In this week's NPR Music newsletter I try to make sense of the intense response to Rosalía's LUX and Geese's GETTING KILLED and identify a shift in music fandom that might be happening. I usually don't post web links to it but I'd love you to read this one view.nl.npr.org?qs=6f1f6e7c2...
Newsletter continues after sponsor message
view.nl.npr.org
January 10, 2026 at 6:01 PM
In this week's NPR Music newsletter I try to make sense of the intense response to Rosalía's LUX and Geese's GETTING KILLED and identify a shift in music fandom that might be happening. I usually don't post web links to it but I'd love you to read this one view.nl.npr.org?qs=6f1f6e7c2...
My next year is gonna be fun
January 9, 2026 at 7:09 PM
My next year is gonna be fun
No thank you
Your Gmail inbox is getting an AI-powered update. Google announced new AI features to help users write emails, summarise information, and create to-do lists.
Google adds new AI features to Gmail, making it a personal assistant
Your Gmail inbox is getting an AI-powered update. Google announced new AI features to help users write emails, summarise information, and create to-do lists.
l.euronews.com
January 9, 2026 at 2:35 AM
No thank you
So is this a draft announcement?
Trump posts footage of the Maduro raid set to "Fortunate Son" -- a protest song about the Vietnam War draft
January 3, 2026 at 7:40 PM
So is this a draft announcement?
My resolution for 2026 is to think globally and act locally. Therefore I am sitting home watching a classic of world cinema tonight
January 1, 2026 at 4:40 AM
My resolution for 2026 is to think globally and act locally. Therefore I am sitting home watching a classic of world cinema tonight
Murderer's row!!
I'm pretty excited for this chat with a couple of fellow 33 1/3 authors and the one and only Ann Powers. If you're in Nashville at the end of January, come by and say hi! thebookshopnashville.com/events/43092...
33 1/3 Author Panel | The Bookshop
thebookshopnashville.com
December 31, 2025 at 8:31 PM
Murderer's row!!
Great piece on being a music lifer in a town that isn't NYC or L.A. oxfordamerican.org/magazine/iss...
Circus of Egos
oxfordamerican.org
December 31, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Great piece on being a music lifer in a town that isn't NYC or L.A. oxfordamerican.org/magazine/iss...
Rare sighting of a late genius
Good morning to Ellen Willis caping for Elvis Costello in Behind the Music's 1997 episode
December 31, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Rare sighting of a late genius
A lot of excellent work from @avparnell.bsky.social to check out here
I had a long, strange year this year and published some things I’m pretty proud of. here’s a thread of them
December 30, 2025 at 8:45 PM
A lot of excellent work from @avparnell.bsky.social to check out here
I just learned from this excellent book (by a woman scholar btw) that the first Beatles bio to include citations for sources was Hertsgaard’s A DAY IN LIFE in… 1995!!! WTF!??? Music writing has changed a lot in recent years. Thank g-d.
December 29, 2025 at 9:02 PM
I just learned from this excellent book (by a woman scholar btw) that the first Beatles bio to include citations for sources was Hertsgaard’s A DAY IN LIFE in… 1995!!! WTF!??? Music writing has changed a lot in recent years. Thank g-d.
Lately I can’t stop thinking about how much art that’s catching interest is about not being able to articulate a response to overwhelming circumstance. Movies, books, music.
People are not okay
People are not okay
December 28, 2025 at 11:21 PM
Lately I can’t stop thinking about how much art that’s catching interest is about not being able to articulate a response to overwhelming circumstance. Movies, books, music.
People are not okay
People are not okay
Just saw Hamnet finally and wow that is a feelings-first film. Lots of dots to connect in it but the viewing experience is one of ”let go” being whispered in the ear the entire time. I think that’s pretty artful
December 28, 2025 at 11:09 PM
Just saw Hamnet finally and wow that is a feelings-first film. Lots of dots to connect in it but the viewing experience is one of ”let go” being whispered in the ear the entire time. I think that’s pretty artful
It was my honor
“Like a beautifully tended and designed cemetery, where cultural history and personal remembrances mingle in the air…”
The great @annkpowers.bsky.social wrote about my In Memoriam project for the NPR Music newsletter — my heart grew 3 sizes reading it 🥹 view.nl.npr.org?qs=5d93b2baa...
The great @annkpowers.bsky.social wrote about my In Memoriam project for the NPR Music newsletter — my heart grew 3 sizes reading it 🥹 view.nl.npr.org?qs=5d93b2baa...
Newsletter continues after sponsor message
view.nl.npr.org
December 27, 2025 at 5:06 PM
It was my honor
I love that the son of Bill and Ted is the star of the new Avatar
December 26, 2025 at 9:37 PM
I love that the son of Bill and Ted is the star of the new Avatar
Happy Chinese-and-a-movie eve
December 25, 2025 at 2:37 AM
Happy Chinese-and-a-movie eve