VOA标准英语2011--Kasey Chambers' 'Little Bird' Takes Flig

Kasey Chambers¹' 'Little Bird' Takes Flight

Kasey Chambers was just 11 years old when she began her career as a member of The Dead Ringer Band, a group led by her parents. In 1999, at the age of 23, Kasey released² her first solo³ album to considerable⁴ international acclaim⁵. Since then, she's gone on to become a huge country star in her native Australia, and her albums continue to win over critics across the globe.
Today, Kasey is the 35-year-old mother of two young boys, with another baby on the way. "Little Bird" is her first solo album since 2006, and some critics are calling it "the album of her career."
One song from the CD, "Beautiful Mess," was the big winner of the 2010 International Songwriting Competition, earning Kasey a $25,000 (US) grand prize. She beat 15,000 composers from 115 countries for the honor⁶. This was the first time Kasey entered the international competition, and she says winning for "Beautiful Mess" makes it even more special, as the song was written for her two sons, Talon⁷ and Arlo.
Kasey Chambers wrote 14 new songs for "Little Bird," and describes the CD as a "really positive album," even though there are a few sad songs. She explains, "there's got to be some sad songs - it's a country record." And of those sad songs, "Somewhere" is probably the saddest. The track features Patty Griffin's harmony singing.
Kasey Chambers is now on a brief U.S. tour, and then plays a festival in Fiji before heading home for shows in Australia.
"Little Bird" closes with a song written as a gift for her husband, fellow singer-songwriter Shane Nicholson. Kasey says she forgot all about Valentine's Day until Shane gifted her with presents and flowers. Kasey felt so bad that she headed into her office and wrote "The Stupid Things I Do" as his present.

1 chambers   

n.房间( chamber的名词复数 )；（议会的）议院；卧室；会议厅

参考例句：

• The body will be removed into one of the cold storage chambers. 尸体将被移到一个冷冻间里。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Mr Chambers's readable book concentrates on the middle passage: the time Ransome spent in Russia. Chambers先生的这本值得一看的书重点在中间：Ransome在俄国的那几年。 来自互联网

2 released   

v.释放( release的过去式和过去分词 )；放开；发布；发行

参考例句：

• He was released on bail pending committal proceedings. 他交保获释正在候审。
• With hindsight it is easy to say they should not have released him. 事后才说他们本不应该释放他，这倒容易。

3 solo   

n.独奏，独唱；adj.单独的；adv.单独地；v.放单飞，单独表演

参考例句：

• Tara is currently working on a solo album.塔拉眼下正忙着制作个人专辑。
• There's wonderfully lyrical flute solo in the middle of this symphony.在交响乐中间有一段奇妙的抒情长笛独奏。

4 considerable   

a.相当多的，相当大的，相当重要的

参考例句：

• He saved the child at considerable risk to himself. 他冒着极大的生命危险救了那个孩子。
• The flood resulted in a considerable reduction in production. 这次水灾造成相当大的减产。

5 acclaim   

v.向…欢呼，公认；n.欢呼，喝彩，称赞

参考例句：

• He was welcomed with great acclaim.他受到十分热烈的欢迎。
• His achievements earned him the acclaim of the scientific community.他的成就赢得了科学界的赞誉。

6 honor   

n.光荣；敬意；荣幸；vt.给…以荣誉；尊敬

参考例句：

• I take your visit as a great honor.您的来访是我莫大的光荣。
• It is a great honor to receive that prize.能拿到那个奖是无上的光荣。

7 talon   

n.爪；（如爪般的）手指；爪状物

参考例句：

• Can you get a little tighter with the talon?你能不能把摄像探头固定住不动？
• This kind of spice is made of eagle's talon and has a unique flavor.这种香料味道独特，是用鹰爪作原料制成的。