VOA标准英语2009年-2009 A Good Year for Americana Music

Although the final numbers won't be in for several weeks, it looks to be another tough year for the retail¹ music industry. The slide in recorded music sales that began in 2001 showed no signs of ending this year. But not all the news is bad.

Katherine Cole | Washington 25 December 2009

 Wilco's 'Wilco (The Album)' CD

There is no way around the fact that things are tough, business-wise.  Billboard² magazine reports that through the week ending November 29, U.S. CD sales plummeted³ nearly 20percent, and digital track sales rose at a much slower pace than last year, up less than 10 percent as compared to last year's 28 percent jump.

Music-wise, however, things weren't so gloomy.  It was a very good year for fans of Americana music, with the roots-based style getting its own Grammy category in time for the annual awards in January.  Among the five nominees⁴ is Wilco, who's CD, Wilco (The Album) is showing up on many critics "Best of 2009" lists.

Dylan, Cash release new albums

AP
Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan released two very different-sounding albums this year.  His Christmas album left critics and fans scratching their heads, trying to figure out if the singer-songwriter was serious.  But Dylan's other release, "Together Through Life" was well-received.   The album has a very "live" sound to it, and despite the bluesy⁵ sound, it's lighter⁶ in tone than its predecessor⁷, Modern Times.  There's even more than a bit of humor in the songs, especially "My Wife's Hometown."

2009 also saw the return of Rosanne Cash. Her CD, The List, has a very interesting history.  When Cash turned 18 and started writing songs, her father, Johnny Cash, was concerned that she only knew the songs that were being played on the radio, and nothing else.  He handed her a list of what he considered the 100 essential American songs.  They include:  "Girl from the North Country"; "Sea of Heartbreak"; and "500 Miles."

Mary Travers Dies

AP
Mary Travers (2006 file photo)

"500 Miles" was also recorded by Peter, Paul and Mary on their 1962 debut⁹.  Mary Travers, the trio's glamorous¹⁰ blond who sang into the middle microphone, died in September after a long battle with leukemia.  She was 72.

Singer-songwriter Gretchen Peters took up the guitar at age seven, and Peter, Paul and Mary songs like "Where Have All The Flowers Gone, were the first she learned to play.   But it wasn't just Mary Traver's voice that attracted Gretchen.  The harmony singing was equally important. 

"That was a great education, just picking apart who sang what on the albums," Peters said.  "Because sometimes, she actually sang lower than one of the guys.  She would sometimes sing lower than Peter.  And you'd have to kind of weed out [determine] who's singing what in the harmonies.  It was not simple, simple stuff, but it was beautiful."

But not all the news was bleak¹¹ in the folk music world in 2009.  Lyle Lovett, Chris Smither, and Caroline Herring were among the many better-known artists who released new CDs.  The year also saw notable music released by many lesser¹² known artists, among them Lucy Wainwright Roche, Sometymes Why, and Amy Speace. 

Cohen Earns Rave⁸ Reviews

Leonard Cohen's 'The Essential' Limited Edition CD

Folk fans around the world had another chance to see 75-year-old Leonard Cohen, as the legendary¹³ and formerly¹⁴ reclusive singer-songwriter criss-crossed the globe.  In 2008, Cohen sold more than 700,000 tickets across 84 shows worldwide, and earning rave reviews from critics around the world.  By the end of this year, the tour had stretched to 190 shows.  And there is no end in sight.  Tickets are now on sale for a series of March 2010 dates in France and Croatia, with more shows likely to be announced.  2010 will also see Leonard Cohen receiving a special lifetime achievement Grammy Award.

Cohen received more good news this year. His 2009 release, Live in London, which documents the tour in a double-CD set and a DVD concert video, is sitting atop many critics "Best of the Year" lists.
 

1 retail   

v./n.零售；adv.以零售价格

参考例句：

• In this shop they retail tobacco and sweets.这家铺子零售香烟和糖果。
• These shoes retail at 10 yuan a pair.这些鞋子零卖10元一双。

2 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。

3 plummeted   

v.垂直落下，骤然跌落( plummet的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Share prices plummeted to an all-time low. 股票价格暴跌到历史最低点。
• A plane plummeted to earth. 一架飞机一头栽向地面。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 nominees   

n.被提名者，被任命者( nominee的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• She's one of the nominees. 她是被提名者之一。 来自超越目标英语 第2册
• A startling number of his nominees for senior positions have imploded. 他所提名的高级官员被否决的数目令人震惊。 来自互联网

5 bluesy   

adj.布鲁斯乐的（一种摇摆乐）

参考例句：

• As a teenager I was obsessed ragtime, and bluesy guitar guys like Johnny Winter. 当我十几岁的时候我迷上了雷鬼，和JohnnyWinter那样的布鲁斯吉他手。 来自互联网
• Lips Accentuate your new bluesy beat in simply sensational LipSlicks Hint of Mauve. 为了强调新布鲁斯乐的节奏，涂上紫红色的唇彩是最自然的。 来自互联网

6 lighter   

n.打火机，点火器；驳船；v.用驳船运送；light的比较级

参考例句：

• The portrait was touched up so as to make it lighter.这张画经过润色，色调明朗了一些。
• The lighter works off the car battery.引燃器利用汽车蓄电池打火。

7 predecessor   

n.前辈，前任

参考例句：

• It will share the fate of its predecessor.它将遭受与前者同样的命运。
• The new ambassador is more mature than his predecessor.新大使比他的前任更成熟一些。

8 rave   

vi.胡言乱语；热衷谈论；n.热情赞扬

参考例句：

• The drunkard began to rave again.这酒鬼又开始胡言乱语了。
• Now I understand why readers rave about this book.我现明白读者为何对这本书赞不绝口了。

9 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。

10 glamorous   

adj.富有魅力的；美丽动人的；令人向往的

参考例句：

• The south coast is less glamorous but full of clean and attractive hotels.南海岸魅力稍逊，但却有很多干净漂亮的宾馆。
• It is hard work and not a glamorous job as portrayed by the media.这是份苦差，并非像媒体描绘的那般令人向往。

11 bleak   

adj.(天气)阴冷的；凄凉的；暗淡的

参考例句：

• They showed me into a bleak waiting room.他们引我来到一间阴冷的会客室。
• The company's prospects look pretty bleak.这家公司的前景异常暗淡。

12 lesser   

adj.次要的，较小的；adv.较小地，较少地

参考例句：

• Kept some of the lesser players out.不让那些次要的球员参加联赛。
• She has also been affected,but to a lesser degree.她也受到波及，但程度较轻。

13 legendary   

adj.传奇（中）的，闻名遐迩的；n.传奇（文学）

参考例句：

• Legendary stories are passed down from parents to children.传奇故事是由父母传给孩子们的。
• Odysseus was a legendary Greek hero.奥狄修斯是传说中的希腊英雄。

14 formerly   

adv.从前，以前

参考例句：

• We now enjoy these comforts of which formerly we had only heard.我们现在享受到了过去只是听说过的那些舒适条件。
• This boat was formerly used on the rivers of China.这船从前航行在中国内河里。