VOA标准英语2010年-Heart Making Successful Comeback With

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Heart was one of the most popular rock bands of the 1980s. The group is making a successful comeback with its new album, "Red Velvet¹ Car."

Heart's new album, "Red Velvet Car," entered the Billboard² 200 at Number 10, and the Rock Albums chart at Number 3 to become the group's highest debut³ ever.

Heart is led by sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson, who are now 60 and 57-years-old, respectively⁴. They grew up in San Diego, California, and Taiwan before settling with their family in Seattle, Washington. Ann and Nancy began performing together in various bands in the 1960s. They formed Heart after moving to Canada in the early-'70s. The band's 1976 debut album, "Dreamboat Annie," sold more than one-million copies in the United States.

Considered pioneers for women in rock, Heart's many hits during the 1980s included "What About Love," "Never" and "All I Wanna Do Is Make Love To You." They reached Number One with two songs, "These Dreams" and "Alone."

Critical response to Heart's new album has been universally positive. Rolling Stone wrote, "The barracudas are back and at the top of their game." And, a music critic at about.com said, "In the five years that I've been writing these reviews, I have only given one perfect score. I hereby award the second one to Heart for 'Red Velvet Car.'"

Nancy wrote one track on the album as a birthday present for Ann. It's called "Sunflower."

Heart appeared on the recent multi-artist Lilith Fair tour and is currently⁵ performing its own U.S. concerts to support "Red Velvet Car."

The album's debut single marks the band's first chart hit since 2004. Here's Heart with "Hey You."
 

1 velvet   

n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的

参考例句：

• This material feels like velvet.这料子摸起来像丝绒。
• The new settlers wore the finest silk and velvet clothing.新来的移民穿着最华丽的丝绸和天鹅绒衣服。

2 billboard   

n.布告板，揭示栏，广告牌

参考例句：

• He ploughed his energies into his father's billboard business.他把精力投入到父亲的广告牌业务中。
• Billboard spreads will be simpler and more eye-catching.广告牌广告会比较简单且更引人注目。

3 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。

4 respectively   

adv.各自地，独自地，个别地，分别地

参考例句：

• They finished first and second respectively.他们分获一二名。
• In this machine which items make up the software and the hardware respectively?在机器中，哪几项分别构成软件和硬件？

5 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。