2006年VOA标准英语-Bob Dylan Comes Back With "Modern Times"

By Katherine Cole
Washington
17 September 2006

Bob Dylan is one of the world's most-acclaimed songwriters and performers. Over the past five decades, he's sold close to 100-million records, and has performed thousands of shows all around the world. His new album, "Modern Times" was released recently to rave¹ reviews that show the 65-year-old musician still has a lot to say. But, Bob Dylan sometimes says it in a cryptic² fashion.

Modern Times starts off with "Thunder On A Mountain," a 12-verse uptempo track that, melodically³, sounds like something Chuck Berry might have recorded. The words, however, are pure Bob Dylan, complete with an acknowledgement of soul singer Alicia Keys.

Throughout his long career, Bob Dylan has delighted in confounding his critics and fans. The best example might be when Dylan, who came onto the scene as a student and disciple⁴ of folk legend Woody Guthrie, famously "went electric" (played an electric guitar) at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival. A decade later, the Jewish singer famously converted to Christianity, but has since been quoted as calling himself a "Jewish atheist⁵." And just a few years ago, he shocked many by turning up on television, using his music to sell woman's lingerie in a playful advertisement. It wasn't quite what anyone expected from the quintessential 1960s' folksinger, who'd long been mischaracterized as always somber⁶ and serious.

While there is a light-hearted, almost sly, humor in some of the lyrics⁷, Dylan doesn't hesitate to write about difficult issues on this record, including aging, the economy, relationships and regret. Sometimes, in the case of the piano ballad⁸, "Workingman's Blues⁹ #2," they're all tackled in the same song.

 

Bob Dylan's record label is calling Modern Times the final installment¹⁰ in a trilogy that began with 1997's Time Out of Mind, winner of that year's Best Album Grammy Award, and continued with 2001's Love and Theft, a Best Album Grammy nominee¹¹.

 

Modern Times is an album you need to dedicate some time to, not just speed through songs that might not grab you at first listen. Giving up on the wordy love song, "Spirit On The Water", would mean missing some great lines that appear near the end of the song.

Now, at an age when many are looking toward retirement¹², Bob Dylan is shrugging off his advancing years, and proving to be just as vital as he was 40 years ago. The onetime recluse¹³ is now very visible, recently collaborating¹⁴ with film director Martin Scorsese on a documentary film, and playing more than 100 dates a year on what he calls his "neverending tour."

In addition, the 65-year-old hosts a weekly program on American satellite radio and is busily writing a second installment of his biography, "Chronicles." And this December, famed choreographer¹⁵ Twyla Tharp will set Bob Dylan's songs to dance for a Broadway show.

1 rave   

vi.胡言乱语；热衷谈论；n.热情赞扬

参考例句：

• The drunkard began to rave again.这酒鬼又开始胡言乱语了。
• Now I understand why readers rave about this book.我现明白读者为何对这本书赞不绝口了。

2 cryptic   

adj.秘密的，神秘的，含义模糊的

参考例句：

• She made a cryptic comment about how the film mirrored her life.她隐晦地表示说这部电影是她人生的写照。
• The new insurance policy is written without cryptic or mysterious terms.新的保险单在编写时没有隐秘条款或秘密条款。

3 melodically   

参考例句：

• The leader has also learned to play more melodically. 这位领导人也学会了演奏得更加优美动听。 来自柯林斯例句

4 disciple   

n.信徒，门徒，追随者

参考例句：

• Your disciple failed to welcome you.你的徒弟没能迎接你。
• He was an ardent disciple of Gandhi.他是甘地的忠实信徒。

5 atheist   

n.无神论者

参考例句：

• She was an atheist but now she says she's seen the light.她本来是个无神论者，可是现在她说自己的信仰改变了。
• He is admittedly an atheist.他被公认是位无神论者。

6 somber   

adj.昏暗的，阴天的，阴森的，忧郁的

参考例句：

• He had a somber expression on his face.他面容忧郁。
• His coat was a somber brown.他的衣服是暗棕色的。

7 lyrics   

n.歌词

参考例句：

• music and lyrics by Rodgers and Hart 由罗杰斯和哈特作词作曲
• The book contains lyrics and guitar tablatures for over 100 songs. 这本书有100多首歌的歌词和吉他奏法谱。

8 ballad   

n.歌谣，民谣，流行爱情歌曲

参考例句：

• This poem has the distinctive flavour of a ballad.这首诗有民歌风味。
• This is a romantic ballad that is pure corn.这是一首极为伤感的浪漫小曲。

9 blues   

n.抑郁，沮丧；布鲁斯音乐

参考例句：

• She was in the back of a smoky bar singing the blues.她在烟雾弥漫的酒吧深处唱着布鲁斯歌曲。
• He was in the blues on account of his failure in business.他因事业失败而意志消沉。

10 installment   

n.(instalment)分期付款；(连载的)一期

参考例句：

• I shall soon pay the last installment of my debt.不久我将偿付我的最后一期债款。
• He likes to buy things on the installment plan.他喜欢用分期付款法购买货物。

11 nominee   

n.被提名者；被任命者；被推荐者

参考例句：

• His nominee for vice president was elected only after a second ballot.他提名的副总统在两轮投票后才当选。
• Mr.Francisco is standing as the official nominee for the post of District Secretary.弗朗西斯科先生是行政书记职位的正式提名人。

12 retirement   

n.退休，退职

参考例句：

• She wanted to enjoy her retirement without being beset by financial worries.她想享受退休生活而不必为金钱担忧。
• I have to put everything away for my retirement.我必须把一切都积蓄起来以便退休后用。

13 recluse   

n.隐居者

参考例句：

• The old recluse secluded himself from the outside world.这位老隐士与外面的世界隔绝了。
• His widow became a virtual recluse for the remainder of her life.他的寡妻孤寂地度过了余生。

14 collaborating   

合作( collaborate的现在分词 )； 勾结叛国

参考例句：

• Joe is collaborating on the work with a friend. 乔正与一位朋友合作做那件工作。
• He was not only learning from but also collaborating with Joseph Thomson. 他不仅是在跟约瑟福？汤姆逊学习，而且也是在和他合作。

15 choreographer   

n.编舞者

参考例句：

• She is a leading professional belly dancer, choreographer, and teacher. 她既是杰出的专业肚皮舞演员，也是舞蹈设计者和老师。 来自辞典例句
• It'stands aside, my choreographer of grace, and blesses each finger and toe. 它站在一旁，我优雅的舞蹈指导，并祝福每个指尖与脚尖。 来自互联网