VOA标准英语2012--Graham Colton Releases 'Pacific Coast Eyes'

Graham Colton Releases¹ 'Pacific Coast Eyes'

Oklahoma native Graham Colton started off with dreams of a football career, leading his high school to the state championship in 1998. But even then, much of his time was spent playing music. 

"Music has always been a part of my life," Colton explains. "When I played football I would play Friday nights and on Saturdays I would play [music] at a Mexican food restaurant. That was kind of my thing."

Graham Colton's new CD is Pacific Coast Eyes. His approach to this album was very different from his previous recordings².

"It is my third full length album," Colton notes. "This one is entirely³ different because I am an independent artist again. As the landscape of the music business is ever changing I felt like it was appropriate to do it all myself. It has certainly been the most rewarding experience and most rewarding album I have made, just because it is all me". 

As an artist, Colton says he doesn't consider himself a singer. He believes he just happens to sing the songs he writes. 

As a businessman, Colton feels today's technology has opened new doors.

"In a way you have more opportunities to reach more people with the push of a button but there is just more stuff⁴ out there that you are competing with," says Colton. "At times it is challenging, but more so with this new album. I am out there really trying to connect the dots on a grassroots level. It is a great time to do that and to be out there".

Colton admits he likes to be the leading man in his music and creates characters in his songs. His biggest success came from the song "Best Days" which was featured every week on the American Idol⁵ TV show during the 2007 season. 

"This one was a turning point for me," Colton recalls⁶. "It is the coolest thing about being a songwriter; you can write something in an afternoon or in five minutes and it changes your life forever".

Graham Colton is currently⁷ on tour in support of his new CD. 

1 releases   

v.释放( release的第三人称单数 )；放开；发布；发行

参考例句：

• Nuclear fission releases tremendous amounts of energy. 核裂变释放出巨大的能量。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Zemel says that when calcium levels are low, the body releases a hormone that helps squeeze the most out of every available milligram of the mineral. 泽莫尔博士说，当人体中的钙含量偏低时，身体里就会产生一种荷尔蒙，它能帮助肌体最大限度地吸收所摄入的钙。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 recordings   

n.记录( recording的名词复数 )；录音；录像；唱片

参考例句：

• a boxed set of original recordings 一套盒装原声录音带
• old jazz recordings reissued on CD 以激光唱片重新发行的老爵士乐

3 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。

4 stuff   

n.原料，材料，东西；vt.填满；吃饱

参考例句：

• We could supply you with the stuff in the raw tomorrow.明天我们可以供应你原材料。
• He is not the stuff.他不是这个材料。

5 idol   

n.偶像，红人，宠儿

参考例句：

• As an only child he was the idol of his parents.作为独子，他是父母的宠儿。
• Blind worship of this idol must be ended.对这个偶像的盲目崇拜应该结束了。

6 recalls   

回忆起( recall的第三人称单数 )； 使想起； 使想到； 勾起

参考例句：

• The sight recalls the days of childhood to me. 那情景使我想起了童年。
• Moreover, extensive use of voluntary recalls can undercut agency accountability. 此外，大量利用自愿撤回会削弱行政机关的责任心。

7 currently   

adv.通常地，普遍地，当前

参考例句：

• Currently it is not possible to reconcile this conflicting evidence.当前还未有可能去解释这一矛盾的例证。
• Our contracts are currently under review.我们的合同正在复查。