2007年VOA标准英语-Relient K Releases Fifth Album

By Larry London
Washington, D.C.
26 June 2007
 
Watch Relient K Report

Relient K is a band from Canton, Ohio.  They are considered to be part of the alternative, punk pop and Christian¹ rock genres³.  The group formed in 1998 and has received numerous awards including a 2003 Grammy nomination⁴ for Best Rock Gospel Album and two Dove Awards, gospel music's top prize.  The band mates are all Christians⁵, although some fans have questioned whether the band fits in the Christian rock genre².  VOA's Larry London sat down with the members of Relient K to discuss their latest album.

Matt Theissen of Relient K

Relient K's new release, "Five Score and Seven Years Ago" contains some of their most unashamedly happy songs to date.  Matt Theissen talks about the single "The Best Thing."

"This song is, like, so happy,” says Theissen.  “You know how most stories or songs have some sort of a conflict in them? That's how a plot is created -- this song has no conflict or plot.  It's just 'had a good day.'  It's a happy song."

Theissen explains how the CD's title was chosen.  "We've been touring and putting out albums for seven years, and this is the fifth one.  Just for an album title, I wanted to go with something that had a "five" theme to it.  It's our fifth record, and the first time that we've done a record as a five-piece (quintet).  Before, we were just four guys.  Now we're a five-piece, so I thought it was kind of interesting."

Originally, the band's music was marketed through Christian bookstores.  Now, with a major record label promoting them, Theissen describes about how they see themselves.

"The band has never changed.  It's just that the format⁶ in which it's been presented [has changed].  We are Christians, and I think we enjoy writing songs about what we believe.  Sometimes I think it's important.  You have other bands writing about their political beliefs, and when you're writing songs from an introspective point of view you're going to write about what you believe in."

Still image from a music video for a song from the new Relient K album, "Five Score and Seven Years Ago".

With the change in marketing⁷, the approach to songwriting has changed as well.  The humor that flowed though the lyrics⁸ in previous releases is not as prevalent. But that doesn't mean the band has become more serious.

"Our music has become a little less tongue-in-cheek over the years.  We've tried to find other ways to portray⁹ that side of our personalities¹⁰, not so much through the lyrics."

Matt Hoopes explains why Relient K took its name from one of Detroit's less-glamorous automobiles¹¹.

“It actually comes from a car I used to drive when I was in high school,” says Hoopes.  “My dad had an old junker [beat up] car sitting around, and it was a Plymouth Reliant K.”

“All our friends made fun of me since it was old and rusty¹².  I put stickers all over it and it was really slow.  We decided¹³ to name the band after it.”

 

 

1 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

2 genre   

n.(文学、艺术等的)类型，体裁，风格

参考例句：

• My favorite music genre is blues.我最喜欢的音乐种类是布鲁斯音乐。
• Superficially,this Shakespeare's work seems to fit into the same genre.从表面上看， 莎士比亚的这个剧本似乎属于同一类型。

3 genres   

（文学、艺术等的）类型，体裁，风格( genre的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Novel and short story are different genres. 长篇小说和短篇小说是不同的类别。
• But confusions over the two genres have a long history. 但是类型的混淆，古已有之。 来自汉英文学 - 散文英译

4 nomination   

n.提名，任命，提名权

参考例句：

• John is favourite to get the nomination for club president.约翰最有希望被提名为俱乐部主席。
• Few people pronounced for his nomination.很少人表示赞成他的提名。

5 Christians   

n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Christians of all denominations attended the conference. 基督教所有教派的人都出席了这次会议。
• His novel about Jesus caused a furore among Christians. 他关于耶稣的小说激起了基督教徒的公愤。

6 format   

n.设计，版式；[计算机]格式，DOS命令:格式化(磁盘)，用于空盘或使用过的磁盘建立新空盘来存储数据；v.使格式化，设计，安排

参考例句：

• Please format this floppy disc.请将这张软盘格式化。
• The format of the figure is very tasteful.该图表的格式很雅致。

7 marketing   

n.行销，在市场的买卖，买东西

参考例句：

• They are developing marketing network.他们正在发展销售网络。
• He often goes marketing.他经常去市场做生意。

8 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。

9 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？

10 personalities   

n. 诽谤，（对某人容貌、性格等所进行的）人身攻击； 人身攻击；人格, 个性, 名人( personality的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• There seemed to be a degree of personalities in her remarks.她话里有些人身攻击的成分。
• Personalities are not in good taste in general conversation.在一般的谈话中诽谤他人是不高尚的。

11 automobiles   

n.汽车( automobile的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• When automobiles become popular,the use of the horse and buggy passed away. 汽车普及后，就不再使用马和马车了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Automobiles speed in an endless stream along the boulevard. 宽阔的林荫道上，汽车川流不息。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

12 rusty   

adj.生锈的；锈色的；荒废了的

参考例句：

• The lock on the door is rusty and won't open.门上的锁锈住了。
• I haven't practiced my French for months and it's getting rusty.几个月不用，我的法语又荒疏了。

13 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。