Ann Powers
NPR
Stow, MA, United States
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Past articles by Ann:
New Music Friday: The best releases out on Nov. 11
Our picks for the best albums out this week include the Spanish-language remix of Run The Jewels' RTJ4, Bruce Springsteen's tribute to classic soul, the debut from Memphis rapper GloRilla and more.Featured Albums:1. Run The Jewels — RTJCU4TROFeatured Songs: "JU$T," "santa calamif***"2. Bruce Springsteen — Only the Strong SurviveFeatured Songs: "Soul Days," "I Forgot To Be Your Lover," "Turn Back… → Read More
S.G. Goodman: Tiny Desk Concert
In Goodman's songs, music is a route to both survival and transcendence. Watch her perform three powerful tracks that confront grief and stump for understanding. → Read More
In the haze of 'Midnights,' Taylor Swift softens into an expanded sound
On Swift's 10th and most challenging album, she and producer Jack Antonoff push her voice in new directions, rethinking the sonic rhetoric of first-person storytelling and shaking off old habits. → Read More
Leyla McCalla: Tiny Desk Concert
Drawing from her new album Breaking the Thermometer, Leyla McCalla and her band explore the weight of memory in songs deeply immersed in the rhythms, sounds and history of Haiti. → Read More
Love Songs of a Dirtbag
On Being Funny In A Foreign Language, the new album by his band The 1975, Matty Healy makes romantic music for cynical outsiders who insist they're ready to give love a try. → Read More
NPR's favorite music of September, from untraditional gospel to mushroom music
Tyler Childers went to church, Makaya McCraven sampled himself, Sudan Archives got silly and sexy, Alex G distilled his production quirks and Björk stuck her toes in the earth. Featured Tracks and Artists:1. Tyler Childers: "Old Country Church (Jubilee Version)" from Can I Take My Hounds to Heaven? 2. Makaya McCraven: "Seventh String" from In These Times 3. Sudan Archives: "Selfish Soul" from… → Read More
Allison Russell: Tiny Desk Concert
Russell and her talented band embody healing community; watch a performance of songs from her astounding, unclassifiable album Outside Child. → Read More
NPR's favorite music of August, from rocking goats to swamp pop
Punches flew from the Mountain Goats, Roc Marciano and The Alchemist teamed up, Tomu DJ took unexpected turns, Julia Jacklin looked deep within, Eli Winter opened up and Tommy McLain returned. Featured Tracks and Artists:1. The Mountain Goats: "Wage Wars Get Rich Die Handsome" from Bleed Out2. Roc Marciano & The Alchemist: "JJ Flash" from The Elephant Man's Bones 3. Tomu DJ: "Optimistic" from… → Read More
New Music Friday: The best releases out on Aug. 19
NPR Music's picks for the best albums out this week include new ones from Hot Chip, the R&B singer Tink, Shemekia Copeland, singer-songwriter Anna Tivel and more.Featured Albums:1. Hot Chip — Freakout/ReleaseFeatured Songs: "Down," "Freakout/Release," "Miss the Bliss," "The Evil That Men Do"2. Terence Etc. — VortexFeatured Songs: "In Contemplation of Clair's Scent," "Infinence or Infinity," "The… → Read More
New Music Friday: The best releases out on Aug. 5
NPR Music's picks for the best releases out this week include a potent new EP from the rapper Doechii, hyper-pop from Pussy Riot, roots salsa from Colombia's Meridian Brothers and more. Featured Albums:1. Doechii — she / her / black bitchFeatured Tracks: "Bitches Be," "Swamp Bitches," "Persuasive"2. Meridian Brothers & El Grupo Renacimiento — Meridian Brothers & El Grupo RenacimientoFeatured… → Read More
Revolutionary Fun: Why we can't stop talking about Beyoncé's 'Renaissance'
The era-defining star's seventh album sparks a conversation about the infinite possibilities of dance music, the difference between fun and pleasure and why disco is always political. → Read More
The power of Beyoncé is about to change music... again
Due out this Friday, July 29, Beyoncé's Act I Renaissance has generated a massive wave of anticipation. In this round-table discussion, we breakdown why we're excited, why it matters and what we might expect. → Read More
NPR's favorite music of June, from salty joy to heart-wrenching slow jams
June brought us The Suffers' socially conscious party music, Saya Gray's headphones-worthy debut, GIVĒON's R&B ballads, Regina Spektor's elaborate songwriting and Petrol Girls' amped-up punk.Featured Tracks and Artists:1. The Suffers: "Don't Bother Me" and "Yada Yada" from It Starts with Love2. Saya Gray: "I FOUND A FLOORBOARD UNDER THE SOIL!" from 19 Masters3. GIVĒON: "Scarred" from Give Or… → Read More
Musicians react to Supreme Court decision on right to abortion
After Friday's Supreme Court decision, artists from around the world spent the following days sharing their reactions and plans for the immediate future. → Read More
Norah Jones reflects on 20 years of 'Come Away With Me'
The singer explains why Blue Note Records rejected her first version of the beloved album and shares her original, previously unheard tracks, now released for a 20th anniversary edition of the record.Plus a deep dive on the album with NPR Music's Ann Powers, WBGO and Jazz Night In America's Nate Chinen and host Robin Hilton. → Read More
7 more Kate Bush songs that deserve the 'Stranger Things' treatment
NPR Music staffers convene to offer up the Kate Bush tracks we think deserve a powerful, paradigm-shifting sync in a television show or movie. → Read More
Fontaines D.C.: Tiny Desk (Home) Concert
Irish post-punk band Fontaines D.C. delivers a four-song set from Chicago's Irish American Heritage Center. → Read More
Buffy Sainte-Marie: Tiny Desk (Home) Concert
Buffy Sainte-Marie has always been a wandering soul with a fierce sense of direction. Watch her and her touring band perform four songs from across her long, innovative career. → Read More
NPR's favorite music of April, from broken-hearted R&B to paranoid post-punk
April brought us albums from a re-energized Pusha T, reggae legend Horace Andy, Myra Melford's improvised suite, Syd's broken-hearted R&B ballads and Straw Man Army's paranoid-but-expansive post-punk. Featured Albums:1. Horace Andy: "Watch Over Them" from Midnight Rocker2. Pusha T: "Dreamin of the Past" from It's Almost Dry3. Myra Melford's Fire and Water Quintet: "VII" from For the Love of Fire… → Read More
Her Voice Is In The Air
The Brazilian singer Flora Purim helped create the sound of jazz fusion. Now, as she releases what she says will be her final album, it's time to give her artistic legacy its due. → Read More