2010 in review: Ann Powers on pop music

Gone are the days when this harpist and warbler could be dismissed as a mere eccentric; here, she writes about home and the big leaps of love with the grace and depth of Joni Mitchell or Leonard Cohen.

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- Live review: Joanna Newsom at Orpheum Theatre

- Album review: Joanna Newsom, ‘Have One on Me’   (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

Some felt this account of a destructive relationship glamorized domestic violence, but this song doesn’t make excuses — the pain and sorrow in Eminem‘s rap and Rihanna‘s gorgeous hook, in fact, make excuses impossible.

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- Critics’ notebook: Eminem and Rihanna and a host of others update the duet  (Kevin Winter / Getty Images)

Hip-hop soul’s shiny showman found his sweet spot on this wide-ranging exploration of the Casanova role.

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- Cee Lo Green explores new musical frontiers

- Album review: Cee Lo Green’s ‘The Lady Killer’  (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

Years in the making, this solo effort from Outkast’s quieter half bubbles over with unforgettable grooves.

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- Album review: Big Boi’s ‘Sir Lucious Left Foot ….The Son of Chico Dusty’  (Don Arnold / Getty Images)

Relaxed and soulful, gritty and melodic, this homemade effort from the Maine troubadour and his excellent band is a simple pleasure that’s hard to turn off.

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- Album review: Ray LaMontagne and the Pariah Dogs’ ‘God Willin’ & the Creek Don’t Rise’   (Irfan Khan, / Los Angeles Times)

Made in the wake of her young husband’s death, Rae’s unjustly overlooked second album pushes past formal boundaries to fully articulate the plunge of grief and the big gasp of new hope.

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- Album review: Corinne Bailey Rae‘s ‘The Sea’

- Video: Corinne Bailey Rae speaks about music, loss and hope   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

West’s strange trip offered the year’s most provocative and intriguing musical innovations.

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- Kanye West shapes the message his way

- Critic’s Notebook: Kanye West’s growing pains   (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)

Bruno Mars, for transcendent guest turns on singles by B.o.B. and Travie McCoy; silky-smart productions as part of the Smeezingtons; a delightful debut album; and all-around charm.

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- Critic’s Notebook: Grammy nominations pull from a wide world  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Everything that gets in the way of just listening to Kanye West‘s “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy” — the hype, the stupid scandals, and most of all West himself.

Related:

- Notes on a Year: Ann Powers on pop music  (Chris Pizzello / Associated Press)