Level 1 — Absolute Beginner
Many new songs came out on Friday. One is by Miranda Lambert. Her new album is called Crisco.
Other music came out too. Wynonna has a new album called The Hard Truth. The Chicks have a special new version of an old album.
Country music fans have a lot to hear this weekend.
- album
- a group of songs sold together
- singer
- a person who sings
- new
- not old
- old
- made a long time ago
- special
- not usual
- fan
- a person who loves something
- weekend
- Saturday and Sunday
- song
- words and music
Level 2 — Elementary
Friday, October 2, was a big day for new music. Country star Miranda Lambert released her album Crisco. Wynonna also put out a new album, The Hard Truth.
The Chicks marked 20 years since their album Taking the Long Way with an anniversary edition. Singer Meshell Ndegeocello also released an album called Synonym.
Music fans often call the day new music Friday, because most albums arrive on that day. This week, country fans had the most to enjoy.
- released
- made available to the public
- anniversary
- a day that remembers something from the past
- edition
- a version of a book or album
- star
- a famous person
- country music
- a style of music from the American South
- marked
- celebrated or noted
- arrive
- to come
- enjoy
- to like something
Level 3 — Intermediate
Friday, October 2, delivered one of the busier release days of the autumn, and country music took a leading role. Miranda Lambert, one of the genre's most recognised voices, put out her album Crisco, while Wynonna released The Hard Truth.
Looking back rather than forward, The Chicks issued a 20th anniversary edition of Taking the Long Way, the 2006 album that became a defining statement for the group. Elsewhere, Meshell Ndegeocello released Synonym, and the British band Blossoms unveiled their sixth album, Songs From the Wedding Cake, and announced a UK arena tour for the autumn.
The same day also brought a film, Rolling Loud: The Movie, a comedy starring Owen Wilson and Matt Rife. For listeners, though, the story of the day was the sheer variety on offer, from fresh country records to a celebrated anniversary reissue.
- genre
- a category of music, film or books
- recognised
- known and identified by many people
- defining
- showing the most important qualities of something
- reissue
- a new release of an older work
- unveil
- to show for the first time
- variety
- a range of different things
- arena
- a very large venue for concerts
- autumn
- the season between summer and winter
Level 4 — Advanced
Friday, October 2, brought one of the more crowded release schedules of the autumn, and country music set the tone. Miranda Lambert, among the genre's most distinctive voices, issued her album Crisco, while Wynonna answered with The Hard Truth, a title that promises candour.
The past was well represented too. The Chicks marked two decades since Taking the Long Way, the 2006 record that became a defiant statement of artistic independence for the trio, with a 20th anniversary edition. Meshell Ndegeocello contributed Synonym, and the British band Blossoms delivered their sixth album, Songs From the Wedding Cake, alongside news of an autumn arena tour of the United Kingdom.
Cinema got a share of the attention as well, with Rolling Loud: The Movie, a comedy starring Owen Wilson and Matt Rife, reaching screens the same day. What stands out, though, is the breadth of a single Friday: a veteran songwriter's new work, a landmark reissue and a pop band's tour announcement, all competing for the same ears.
- distinctive
- clearly different and easy to recognise
- candour
- honesty in speech
- defiant
- openly refusing to obey or conform
- trio
- a group of three
- landmark
- an event or work that marks an important stage
- breadth
- the wide range of something
- veteran
- a person with long experience
- compete
- to try to win attention or success over others