VOA慢速英语2015 Party Like It's '1989' - The Music of 2014

 

Party Like It's '1989' - The Music of 2014

As 2014 comes to an end, we look back at some of the most popular music of the year. We also bring to your attention some music you may have missed.

The Billboard¹ Top 200 Album Charts suggests that music lovers this year are enjoying a trip back to 1989. The Billboard Top 200 lists the most popular albums by sales and online streaming activity. 1989 is the title of singer-songwriter Taylor Swift’s latest music release. The album currently leads the sales charts for 2014.

Another popular album this year is the soundtrack to the Disney film “Frozen.” It includes the song “Let It Go,” which won an Academy Award for Best Original Song.

A popular country music singer returned to the top album charts this year. Garth Brooks² released his ninth studio album called “Man Against Machine.” Mr. Brooks had announced his retirement³ from recording⁴ and performing in 2000, but he came out of retirement this summer and started performing around world.

Album sales and chart lists, however, are not always the best way to find out if a music album is worth buying. Sometimes the best albums are those that slip through the cracks: they go unnoticed by the general public. Here is a list of albums from 2014 that you might also enjoy.

We start with an artist who has made a name for himself as an actor as well as a musician. Lenny Kravitz plays several instruments. This summer he released a new album, Strut⁵.

Pinnick Gales⁶ Pridgen are the three last names of the dynamite⁷ rock musicians who make up the group. Bassist and vocalist dUg [sic] Pinnick is known for playing bass⁸ and providing vocals⁹ for another rock trio called King’s X. Eric Gales has made a name for himself as a guitarist and leader of the Eric Gales Band. Thomas Pridgen has played drums with many bands including The Mars Volta and Suicidal Tendencies. PGP2 is the title of the trio’s 2nd album released this year.

Pennsylvania-based Crobot is relatively¹⁰ new. The four-piece rock band released their latest album, Something Supernatural, in October of this year. The first single from the album is a song called “Nowhere to Hide.”

After 17 years and several lineup changes, alternative metal band Nonpoint continues to tour and give energetic live performances. This year they released their eighth studio album called “The Return.”

Last, but not least, is an album by a band called “Sevendust.” The five-piece rock band formed in Atlanta in the 1990s. Their album Time Travelers & Bonfires shows a different, more powerful side to non-electric, acoustic¹¹ music.

Words in This Story

acoustic – adj. not having its sound changed by electrical devices

Academy Award – n. used for an award given by part of the U.S. film industry to the best actors and directors of the year, and others; the award statue is known as an Oscar

dynamite – adj. exciting and very impressive or pleasing

trio – n. a group of three singers or musicians who perform together

1 billboard   

n.布告板，揭示栏，广告牌

参考例句：

• He ploughed his energies into his father's billboard business.他把精力投入到父亲的广告牌业务中。
• Billboard spreads will be simpler and more eye-catching.广告牌广告会比较简单且更引人注目。

2 brooks   

n.小溪( brook的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Brooks gave the business when Haas caught him with his watch. 哈斯抓到偷他的手表的布鲁克斯时，狠狠地揍了他一顿。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Ade and Brooks exchanged blows yesterday and they were severely punished today. 艾德和布鲁克斯昨天打起来了，今天他们受到严厉的惩罚。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 retirement   

n.退休，退职

参考例句：

• She wanted to enjoy her retirement without being beset by financial worries.她想享受退休生活而不必为金钱担忧。
• I have to put everything away for my retirement.我必须把一切都积蓄起来以便退休后用。

4 recording   

n.录音，记录

参考例句：

• How long will the recording of the song take?录下这首歌得花多少时间？
• I want to play you a recording of the rehearsal.我想给你放一下彩排的录像。

5 strut   

v.肿胀，鼓起；大摇大摆地走；炫耀；支撑；撑开；n.高视阔步；支柱，撑杆

参考例句：

• The circulation economy development needs the green science and technology innovation as the strut.循环经济的发展需要绿色科技创新生态化作为支撑。
• Now we'll strut arm and arm.这会儿咱们可以手挽着手儿，高视阔步地走了。

6 gales   

龙猫

参考例句：

• I could hear gales of laughter coming from downstairs. 我能听到来自楼下的阵阵笑声。
• This was greeted with gales of laughter from the audience. 观众对此报以阵阵笑声。

7 dynamite   

n./vt.(用)炸药(爆破)

参考例句：

• The workmen detonated the dynamite.工人们把炸药引爆了。
• The philosopher was still political dynamite.那位哲学家仍旧是政治上的爆炸性人物。

8 bass   

n.男低音(歌手)；低音乐器；低音大提琴

参考例句：

• He answered my question in a surprisingly deep bass.他用一种低得出奇的声音回答我的问题。
• The bass was to give a concert in the park.那位男低音歌唱家将在公园中举行音乐会。

9 vocals   

（乐曲中的）歌唱部份，声乐部份( vocal的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Also look out for soaring vocals on The Right Man. 另外，也可留意一下《意中人》中的那高亢的唱腔。
• Lazy bass line, lazier drums, lush violins, great piano and incomparable vocals. 懒惰的低音线，较懒惰的鼓，饮小提琴，棒的钢琴和无比的声音。

10 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

11 acoustic   

adj.听觉的，声音的；(乐器)原声的

参考例句：

• The hall has a fine acoustic.这个大厅的传音效果很好。
• Animals use a whole rang of acoustic, visual,and chemical signals in their systems of communication.动物利用各种各样的听觉、视觉和化学信号来进行交流。