Ann Powers is leaving Seattle. Again. The author and music critic grew up in a house in Magnolia and left, the first time, in 1984, for San Francisco. Then she moved to New York and ended up at the New York Times, where her intelligent pop criticism (and her books) earned her a national reputation. She returned to Seattle to be a senior curator for Experience Music Project back when it seemed like EMP was going to be something. She leaves this time (with her husband and child) for Los Angeles, where she's just been named chief pop music critic for the Los Angeles Times.
Did you see Dolly Parton on the Academy Awards?
Briefly, yes. I love Dolly. I've met Dolly Parton, as a matter of fact. She was the farthest from a human-looking person that I've ever met, but she's really a great artist.
Do you think it's possible that her lungs are within her breasts?
Her lungs take up the entirety of her inner being. Her lungs and her brain. But she has no stomach obviously, being beyond human. She's what we'll be in the future.
Did you think Three 6 Mafia deserved the Oscar for best song?
Abso-freaking-lutely yes. It isn't the greatest Three 6 Mafia song, but it was a joyful moment seeing all those guys up there doing their thing. Plus, I loved Hustle and Flow.
Is EMP going under?
You know, I have not stepped inside EMP since last June. I have a couple friends there, but we try to talk about other things.
Come on, you can tell me.
I don't think that will ever happen. Although I've always entertained the fantasy that it would make a great bowling alley.
The 2004 report of the American Lung Association named L.A. the most polluted city in the country with short-term particle pollution, year-round particle pollution, and ozone pollution.
Bring it on, I'm really allergic to mold, so Seattle's been a problem. I have so many different allergies, but mold is number one. Plus, I'm really scared of raccoons. So I have to get out of town.
Are you worried about the likelihood of a major earthquake?
[Laughs.] You know, I lived in San Francisco during the Loma Prieta earthquake in 1989, I lived in Oakland during the Oakland/Berkeley Hills Fire in 1991, and I lived in New York during 9/11. Seattle's really lucky I'm leaving.
Are you worried about ultraviolet radiation?
I am. I'm skin-cancer paranoid. It's going to be really good that I'll have health insurance.
Have you missed being a full-time critic?
Yes. Very much so. And L.A. Times is at the center of the culture industry. It's the perfect job for me. Getting it was like seeing somebody cute across the room and wishing they'd ask you to dance, and then they do.
