VOA常速英语2007年-Steve Earle Gives Nod to New Hometown in 'Washi

By Katherine Cole
Washington
15 December 2007

Two decades ago, Texan Steve Earle rode into Nashville and released a debut¹ album full of songs that set him apart from most of the other performers who wanted to be country music hitmakers. Few in Nashville, are willing or able to write songs like "Guitar Town", Earle's very unromantic but realistic tale of life as a working musician.  Today, Steve Earle has finally bid farewell to "Guitar Town" and taken up residence in New York City. VOA's Katherine Cole reports on his new CD, "Washington Square Serenade."

In case there is any question as to his whereabouts, "Tennessee Blues," the opening track to Steve Earle's 12th solo release, sets us straight.

But it's not just the lyrics² to the songs on Washington Square Serenade that let us know Steve Earle is in a different place. The album, with its minimalist arrangements of mandolins and guitars over drum loops, sounds stark³ and bare like a New York City loft⁴, as opposed to a warm country cabin.

Steve Earle says he always loved visiting New York. After spending two months living there in 2004, he decided⁵ to make it his home. That move, along with his recent marriage to fellow singer and songwriter Alison Moorer, was the inspiration for Washington Square Serenade, which Earle calls love songs for the city and his seventh wife. It's obvious which one of the two influenced "Sparkle and Shine."

But just because he's in love, don't go thinking that Steve Earle has gone soft. Long known for championing causes, he still has opinions on the world around him. And, as shown in "Oxycontin Blues," Steve Earle still captures the dark side of life and the struggle of the underclass like few others can.

Washington Square Serenade is just one of the projects that made 2007 a very busy year for Steve Earle. The 52-year-old troubadour spent several months on the road touring in support of his new release, while also wrapping up work on his first novel. And somehow, he found time to portray⁶ a drug counselor⁷ in the television series "The Wire," and host a weekly radio program.

 

Another highlight of Washington Square Serenade is a tribute to folk singer Pete Seeger, called "Steve's Hammer (For Pete)." It is a protest song looking ahead to the day when we won't have anything to protest, because hunger, poverty, war and other issues Seeger and others have been singing about for the past 50 years will finally be a thing of the past.

 

Steve Earle's Washington Square Serenade is showing up on several "best of 2007" lists, including one by author Stephen King, who places it in the top spot.

 

1 debut   

n.首次演出，初次露面

参考例句：

• That same year he made his Broadway debut, playing a suave radio journalist.在那同一年里，他初次在百老汇登台，扮演一个温文而雅的电台记者。
• The actress made her debut in the new comedy.这位演员在那出新喜剧中首次登台演出。

2 lyrics   

n.歌词

参考例句：

• music and lyrics by Rodgers and Hart 由罗杰斯和哈特作词作曲
• The book contains lyrics and guitar tablatures for over 100 songs. 这本书有100多首歌的歌词和吉他奏法谱。

3 stark   

adj.荒凉的；严酷的；完全的；adv.完全地

参考例句：

• The young man is faced with a stark choice.这位年轻人面临严峻的抉择。
• He gave a stark denial to the rumor.他对谣言加以完全的否认。

4 loft   

n.阁楼，顶楼

参考例句：

• We could see up into the loft from bottom of the stairs.我们能从楼梯脚边望到阁楼的内部。
• By converting the loft,they were able to have two extra bedrooms.把阁楼改造一下，他们就可以多出两间卧室。

5 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

6 portray   

v.描写，描述；画(人物、景象等)

参考例句：

• It is difficult to portray feelings in words.感情很难用言语来描写。
• Can you portray the best and worst aspects of this job?您能描述一下这份工作最好与最坏的方面吗？

7 counselor   

n.顾问，法律顾问

参考例句：

• The counselor gave us some disinterested advice.顾问给了我们一些无私的忠告。
• Chinese commercial counselor's office in foreign countries.中国驻国外商务参赞处。