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.
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
This is a great list!
See my Best #Music #Journalism of 2025 round-up for Rock & Roll Globe, including articles from @carlzoilus.bsky.social @marysiroky.bsky.social @lizpelly.bsky.social @bobmehr.bsky.social @gabrielkahane.bsky.social @ericdharvey.com @chavighurst.bsky.social & more rockandrollglobe.com/music-journa...
Best Music Journalism 2025 - Rock and Roll Globe
While music scribing has almost always been a mostly unloved type of work that’s not well paid or gets most anyone any kind of respect outside of the
rockandrollglobe.com
December 24, 2025 at 8:09 PM
This is a great list!
Reposting because while you're making your cookies/bird/mulled wine/whatevs, you WANT to listen to this! Christmas with Cocktails, in a Cardigan! www.npr.org/2025/12/18/n...
All Songs+: “The Christmas Song” by Nat King Cole : All Songs Considered
When this song was released in 1961, it was a pivotal time not only for Christmas music, but for America itself—culture was colliding with mid-century modern sensibilities and Christmas was becoming a...
www.npr.org
December 24, 2025 at 3:28 AM
Reposting because while you're making your cookies/bird/mulled wine/whatevs, you WANT to listen to this! Christmas with Cocktails, in a Cardigan! www.npr.org/2025/12/18/n...
This book looks cool
now reading : the history of a tenth of a second by Jimena Canales
“it wasn’t until the 1850s that instruments could recognize a tenth of a second, and, once they did, the impact on modern science and society was profound.”
press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/bo...
“it wasn’t until the 1850s that instruments could recognize a tenth of a second, and, once they did, the impact on modern science and society was profound.”
press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/bo...
December 21, 2025 at 9:34 PM
This book looks cool
Now this is a role model
It’s the “season of love and giving”…but this year, doesn’t it seem more like a “season of fear and taking”? Like many of you, I’ve been saddened by the human impact of draconian government budget cuts and how angry many housed Americans are at unhoused Americans.
🧵 1 of 9
🧵 1 of 9
December 21, 2025 at 4:35 AM
Now this is a role model
Pals we made a holiday podcast. We go DEEEEEP into 20th century Christmas songs. Privileged to talk about the legend Nat King Cole! www.npr.org/2025/12/18/n...
All Songs+: “The Christmas Song” by Nat King Cole : All Songs Considered
When this song was released in 1961, it was a pivotal time not only for Christmas music, but for America itself—culture was colliding with mid-century modern sensibilities and Christmas was becoming a...
www.npr.org
December 19, 2025 at 5:27 AM
Pals we made a holiday podcast. We go DEEEEEP into 20th century Christmas songs. Privileged to talk about the legend Nat King Cole! www.npr.org/2025/12/18/n...
One time Eric and I were at the Princeton Record Exchange and in the famous two-dollar pins we found a treasure trove of Joe Ely records. We bought them and wow did we get schooled about Texas music. A great and genuine troubadour. We just lost him. RIP www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NpD...
Joe Ely - She Never Spoke Spanish To Me - International Country Festival 1978 • TopPop
YouTube video by TopPop
www.youtube.com
December 16, 2025 at 5:38 AM
One time Eric and I were at the Princeton Record Exchange and in the famous two-dollar pins we found a treasure trove of Joe Ely records. We bought them and wow did we get schooled about Texas music. A great and genuine troubadour. We just lost him. RIP www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NpD...
It would be!!
Hey. Hey you. Wouldn’t it be nice and soothing to listen to NPR Music’s @annkpowers.bsky.social talk about her favorite Nashville albums of the year right about now? Yeah. We got you:
The Best Music From Nashville Artists in 2025 - City Cast Nashville
Our very own musical Santa is back for another year: NPR Music critic Ann Powers joins host Marie Cecile Anderson and producer Daniel Sumstine to s...
nashville.citycast.fm
December 15, 2025 at 10:34 PM
It would be!!
Reposted by Ann Powers
Here's a quick post about Sananda Maitreya's modern hymn, "I Have Faith in These Desolate Times." It's the song I returned to the most during 2025, an especially difficult and awful year.
alyxvesey.substack.com/p/song-for-t...
alyxvesey.substack.com/p/song-for-t...
Song for the Year: “I Have Faith in These Desolate Times”
A brief appreciation for Sananda Maitreya’s modern hymn
alyxvesey.substack.com
December 15, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Here's a quick post about Sananda Maitreya's modern hymn, "I Have Faith in These Desolate Times." It's the song I returned to the most during 2025, an especially difficult and awful year.
alyxvesey.substack.com/p/song-for-t...
alyxvesey.substack.com/p/song-for-t...
Awful news all weekend. this is trivial but I just want to say that since childhood I always found the gap in Rob Reiner’s teeth very attractive. He was great as Meathead and he deserved that dish Sally Struthers
December 15, 2025 at 4:01 AM
Awful news all weekend. this is trivial but I just want to say that since childhood I always found the gap in Rob Reiner’s teeth very attractive. He was great as Meathead and he deserved that dish Sally Struthers
Honestly, the voice of a generation
The run that Rob Reiner went on between 1984 and 1992 is one of the most amazing hot streaks any director has ever had. Legendary stuff
December 15, 2025 at 3:57 AM
Honestly, the voice of a generation
See The Secret Agent in the theater if you can. So much happening in the background in this film. Sex, for example. Ambient horniness melded with anxiety, what a mood
December 14, 2025 at 8:13 PM
See The Secret Agent in the theater if you can. So much happening in the background in this film. Sex, for example. Ambient horniness melded with anxiety, what a mood
I can't do math, so my final list of Top Songs of 2025 ended up being 23 tracks. Here it is: www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0ty...
Dove Ellis - Love Is
YouTube video by Eugey Baby
www.youtube.com
December 13, 2025 at 4:38 PM
I can't do math, so my final list of Top Songs of 2025 ended up being 23 tracks. Here it is: www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0ty...