2006年VOA标准英语-Denver-Based Pop-Rock Band Gets Hot

By Meghan McQuighan
Washington, DC
05 June 2006
 
watch The Fray¹ report

The up and coming U.S. pop-rock group, "The Fray," is climbing the charts with a unique sound and melodic² vocals³.The story is  narrated⁴ by Phil Alexiou.

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Although young Denver natives Isaac Slade and Joe King barely spoke⁵ to each other during their high school years, at some point, they had the idea to begin a band. Since then, The Fray has been gaining popularity on a national level.

 

The Fray's debut⁶ CD
  
  

Since releasing their debut CD, "How to Save a Life" in September 2005, the Fray has become one of the hottest new bands, which is an unexpected turn of events says Isaac Slade, the Fray's lead vocalist and pianist.

"I think all of us have been really surprised from where it's gone," Slade says. "I think we've had a couple of expectations and they have all been blown out of the water soundly, so everything else is extra from here on out. "

Guitarist and back-up vocalist, Joe King
  
  
Joe King, guitarist and back-up vocalist, says, "Having people come pay to see you, you're just thrown in the open. It's a humbling⁷, fearful, and exciting at the same time.

"Now the pressure is on for the listeners to enjoy what they listened to… and when they leave you know it was a great show and knowing that they want to come back," he says.

Keeping the fans doesn't seem to be difficult for this four-member band. One of their hits, "Over my Head" is currently number eight on Billboard's top 100 songs. The band still recalls the first time they heard the hit on the radio.

"The stereo didn't work so we had to cram⁸ into the van," Slade says.

Fans seem to like The Fray's unique sound, which utilizes⁹ a piano, drums, and two guitars. But where did they get that name?

 
Vocalist Isaac Slade 
  
"I was at a graduation party," Slade says, "and we didn't have a name so we put out a fishbowl and had people put in their suggestions, and we didn't like any of the other ones, so we picked this one. "

The Fray is on tour for the next few months. They seem unimpressed by their success.

"What's changed? Well, our shoes have changed a lot," says King. "People keep giving us free shoes.  Dave got new shoes.  We get new jeans all the time."

After their road tour, The Fray will return to their hometown of Denver, Colorado

1 fray   

v.争吵；打斗；磨损，磨破；n.吵架；打斗

参考例句：

• Why should you get involved in their fray?你为什么要介入他们的争吵呢？
• Tempers began to fray in the hot weather.大热天脾气烦燥。

2 melodic   

adj.有旋律的，调子美妙的

参考例句：

• His voice had a rich melodic quality.他的音色浑厚而优美。
• He spoke with a soft husky voice in a melodic accent.他微微沙哑的声音带着一种悠扬的口音。

3 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。

4 narrated   

v.故事( narrate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Some of the story was narrated in the film. 该电影叙述了这个故事的部分情节。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Defoe skilfully narrated the adventures of Robinson Crusoe on his desert island. 笛福生动地叙述了鲁滨逊·克鲁索在荒岛上的冒险故事。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

5 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

6 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。

7 humbling   

adj.令人羞辱的v.使谦恭( humble的现在分词 )；轻松打败（尤指强大的对手）；低声下气

参考例句：

• A certain humbling from time to time is good. 不时受点儿屈辱是有好处的。 来自辞典例句
• It has been said that astronomy is a humbling and character-buildingexperience. 据说天文学是一种令人产生自卑、塑造人格的科学。 来自互联网

8 cram   

v.填塞，塞满，临时抱佛脚，为考试而学习

参考例句：

• There was such a cram in the church.教堂里拥挤得要命。
• The room's full,we can't cram any more people in.屋里满满的，再也挤不进去人了。

9 utilizes   

v.利用，使用( utilize的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• One highly successful approach utilizes a triplet aspheric lens array. 一种很成功的方法是利用一个三合非球面透镜阵列。 来自辞典例句
• The first utilizes a blend of finely ground ceramic powders. 第一种用的是一种磨细的陶瓷粉末混合物。 来自辞典例句