VOA标准英语2013--Nu-Blu Celebrates a Decade of Music With 'Ten'

 

Nu-Blu Celebrates a Decade of Music With 'Ten'

Bands come and go so quickly these days that it’s not often you find many celebrating five years of togetherness, let alone a decade. But that’s just what North Carolina’s modern bluegrass band Nu-Blu is doing with their new CD “Ten.”    

Carolyn Routh sings lead on the majority of the tracks of Nu-Blu’s “Ten.” Her pure vocals¹ ring out so smooth and strong, it’s hard to imagine that Routh’s voice was almost silenced by a series of strokes² in November 2003, soon after the band was formed. At first, she was unable to talk or use the right side of her body, but with the help of the band’s guitarist-and now her husband-Daniel Routh, Carolyn battled back. Seeing her play and sing today, you’d never know the red-haired bass³ player had ever been ill.

In addition to the Rouths, Nu-Blu is made up of Levi Austin on banjo and Austin Koener’s mandolin.

While the band plays the same instruments as the originators of the bluegrass music did back in the 1940s, few of songs on Nu-Blu’s fifth album have that twangy old-school sound.    

What’s Nu-Blu’s secret to surviving and staying on the road for 10 years when so many bands fall by the wayside?

Carolyn Routh says you have to love every minute of the job. Singing is all she’s ever wanted to do. Even so, being on the road constantly takes her away from family and friends. It’s the subject of “That Road.”

“That’s my dream job and I love every minute of it. I’m also a real homebody. And I love my family and I love my home," she said. "This song lets me be in both places. When I perform this song, I’m thinking about how much fun I’m having right there on that stage and, at the same time, how much I’m missing⁴ my family back at home. The song sort of bridges that gap⁵ for me.”

Nu-Blu is celebrating 10 years together not only with a new CD, but a busy schedule that sees the band booked throughout the United States well into next year - including a stint⁶ on a Caribbean cruise⁷ ship next winter. They hope to add overseas dates next year; until then you’ll have to be satisfied with all the live videos they’re posting to YouTube and their website.

While some of the songs on Nu-Blu’s “Ten” might be considered more pop or country, the albums sole⁸ instrumental⁹ track, “Giant Squid,” leaves no question that the band’s roots are firmly in the bluegrass camp.

1 vocals   

（乐曲中的）歌唱部份，声乐部份( vocal的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Also look out for soaring vocals on The Right Man. 另外，也可留意一下《意中人》中的那高亢的唱腔。
• Lazy bass line, lazier drums, lush violins, great piano and incomparable vocals. 懒惰的低音线，较懒惰的鼓，饮小提琴，棒的钢琴和无比的声音。

2 strokes   

中风； a sudden loss of consciousness resulting when the rupture or occlusion of a blood vessel leads to oxygen lack in the brain.； （游泳或划船的）划( stroke的名词复数 )； 中风； （打、击等的）一下； （成功的）举动

参考例句：

• Apply the paint thickly in even strokes. 涂颜料要厚，笔画要匀。
• To improve your tennis strokes you try using a different grip. 为了提高你网球的击球法，你试试用另一种握拍方法。

3 bass   

n.男低音(歌手)；低音乐器；低音大提琴

参考例句：

• He answered my question in a surprisingly deep bass.他用一种低得出奇的声音回答我的问题。
• The bass was to give a concert in the park.那位男低音歌唱家将在公园中举行音乐会。

4 missing   

adj.遗失的，缺少的，失踪的

参考例句：

• Check the tools and see if anything is missing.检点一下工具，看有无丢失。
• All the others are here;he's the only one missing.别人都来了，就短他一个。

5 gap   

n.缺口；间隔；差距；不足，缺陷

参考例句：

• We must see that there is no gap in our defence.我们必须确保我们的防御没有漏洞。
• There is a gap of five miles between towns.镇与镇之间相隔五英里。

6 stint   

v.节省，限制，停止；n.舍不得化，节约，限制；连续不断的一段时间从事某件事

参考例句：

• He lavished money on his children without stint.他在孩子们身上花钱毫不吝惜。
• We hope that you will not stint your criticism.我们希望您不吝指教。

7 cruise   

v.巡航，航游，缓慢巡行；n.海上航游

参考例句：

• They went on a cruise to Tenerife.他们乘船去特纳利夫岛。
• She wants to cruise the canals of France in a barge.她想乘驳船游览法国的运河。

8 sole   

adj.惟一的；独一无二的，专用的；独占的

参考例句：

• She is my sole trust.她是我惟一信赖的人。
• My sole purpose is to help you.我唯一的目的是帮助你。

9 instrumental   

adj.仪器的，器械的，乐器的，起作用的，有帮助的

参考例句：

• It is an instrumental work.这是一部可以用乐器演奏的作品。
• He was instrumental in catching the criminal.在捉拿那个罪犯的过程中，他起了作用。