VOA标准英语2012--Miranda Lambert Delivers Whole New Flair With 'Four The Record'

Miranda Lambert Delivers Whole New Flair¹ With 'Four The Record'

Miranda Lambert says her new album, “Four The Record,” “pushes the limits” and builds on her previous releases with “a whole new flair.”

The Country star kept a high profile throughout the past year by winning her first Grammy Award, taking home her second consecutive² Country Music Association Female Vocalist of the Year Award, and marrying fellow Country star Blake Shelton. And, she’s poised³ to have another stellar year in 2012.

Miranda’s new album, “Four The Record,” debuted⁵ at Number One. She becomes the only artist in the Country Album chart’s history to enter in the top spot with each of her first four releases. Last year, Miranda recorded a side project with singer-songwriter friends Ashley Monroe and Angaleena Presley as Pistol Annies. The trio’s “Hell On Heels” album also opened at Number One on the Country list.

Since the 2005 release of her major label debut⁴ album “Kerosene,” Miranda has charted her own musical course. Her fans have understood her personality from the beginning, but Miranda’s feisty attitude stood in the way of radio success early in her career. She finally developed a relationship with Country radio with the release of her 2009 album, “Revolution,” which produced two Number One hits.

After spending some time at home for the holidays, Miranda is back at work to promote her new album. “Four The Record” features many guests, including Steve Winwood, Josh Kelley, Patty Loveless and Little Big Town’s Karen Fairchild and Kimberly Schlapman. Miranda also invited her husband to duet with her on this track, called “Better In The Long Run.”

Miranda and Blake will both kick off their 2012 concerts on January 12. Chris Young and Jerrod Niemann will open shows on Miranda’s “On Fire” tour.

Miranda wrote the album's second single “Over You” with her husband. The poignant⁶ song pays tribute to Blake’s late brother Richie, who died in an automobile⁷ accident in 1990.

1 flair   

n.天赋，本领，才华；洞察力

参考例句：

• His business skill complements her flair for design.他的经营技巧和她的设计才能相辅相成。
• He had a natural flair for business.他有做生意的天分。

2 consecutive   

adj.连续的，联贯的，始终一贯的

参考例句：

• It has rained for four consecutive days.已连续下了四天雨。
• The policy of our Party is consecutive.我党的政策始终如一。

3 poised   

a.摆好姿势不动的

参考例句：

• The hawk poised in mid-air ready to swoop. 老鹰在半空中盘旋，准备俯冲。
• Tina was tense, her hand poised over the telephone. 蒂娜心情紧张，手悬在电话机上。

4 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。

5 debuted   

初次表演，初次登台（debut的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• In late 2003 a full-size SUV, the Pathfinder Armada, debuted. 2003年末，全尺寸SUV的探路者无敌舰队，推出。
• The album debuted at number two and quickly went platinum. 专辑一亮相就荣登排行榜第二名，很快就取得了白金销量。

6 poignant   

adj.令人痛苦的，辛酸的，惨痛的

参考例句：

• His lyrics are as acerbic and poignant as they ever have been.他的歌词一如既往的犀利辛辣。
• It is especially poignant that he died on the day before his wedding.他在婚礼前一天去世了，这尤其令人悲恸。

7 automobile   

n.汽车，机动车

参考例句：

• He is repairing the brake lever of an automobile.他正在修理汽车的刹车杆。
• The automobile slowed down to go around the curves in the road.汽车在路上转弯时放慢了速度。