Former Beach Boy Brian Wilson Releases Long-Awaited Album

 

By Bernie Bernard
After a wait of nearly 40 years, founding Beach Boys member Brian Wilson has released Smile, an album he refers to as his masterpiece. Since the late-1960s, Brian has battled depression, disillusionment with the music business and his unfulfilled vision for Smile.
(Music)
Beach Boys member and songwriter Brian Wilson has always been known for his pioneering techniques as an arranger and recording¹ studio genius. He wanted to help the band evolve from their mid-1960s surf sound into a more sophisticated vocal² group. In 1967, when The Beatles released their ground-breaking album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Brian was disheartened. He was working on an album called Smile, the sequel to the Beach Boys' million-selling Pet Sounds.  Smile made use of special effects, arrangements and harmonies, but The Beatles beat Brian to the marketplace with their own concept album. He also had to battle factions³ within his band, including his own brothers, who wanted to stay with the musical formula that made them millions of dollars. Brian went into a deep depression that lasted for decades, and took extended time away from The Beach Boys. After years of controversial therapy and a renewed solo career, Brian was ready to finish his masterpiece.
A few of the songs that were intended for Smile, such as Surf's Up, Good Vibrations⁴ and Heroes And Villains⁵ have appeared on Beach Boys albums over the years. Brian decided⁶ to start all over again, and replace the group's vocals⁷ with his own.
(Music)
Brian Wilson says the concept of Smile is a "teenage symphony to God," and an avant-garde, symphonic pop collection that explores American mythology⁸. It was written when he was 24-years-old, and was conceived as a celebration of innocence⁹. Now 62, Brian is revisiting the songs as a man of experience who has dealt with drug addiction¹⁰, emotional problems, and the death of his two bandmates and brothers, Carl and Dennis. The surviving Beach Boys have met each other more times in the courtroom than onstage.
Brian called upon original lyricist Van Dyke¹¹ Parks to help him finish the songs on Smile, and asked Los Angeles band The Wondermints to join him in the studio. The music builds on the distinctive¹² Beach Boys sound, with multiple harmonies, dreamy arrangements, counter-rhythms and touches of 1960s' psychedelia.
Brian Wilson is on a tour of the U.S., highlighting songs from Smile and treating fans to tunes¹³ from his solo career as well as his days with the legendary¹⁴ Beach Boys.
I am Bernie Bernard.
(Music)
注释：
dishearten 沮丧，气馁
formula 规则，方式
masterpiece 杰作
symphonic 和声的
mythology 神话
psychedelia 幻觉，迷幻世界

1 recording   

n.录音，记录

参考例句：

• How long will the recording of the song take?录下这首歌得花多少时间？
• I want to play you a recording of the rehearsal.我想给你放一下彩排的录像。

2 vocal   

adj.直言不讳的；嗓音的；n.[pl.]声乐节目

参考例句：

• The tongue is a vocal organ.舌头是一个发音器官。
• Public opinion at last became vocal.终于舆论哗然。

3 factions   

组织中的小派别，派系( faction的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The gens also lives on in the "factions." 氏族此外还继续存在于“factions〔“帮”〕中。 来自英汉非文学 - 家庭、私有制和国家的起源
• rival factions within the administration 政府中的对立派别

4 vibrations   

n.摆动( vibration的名词复数 )；震动；感受；（偏离平衡位置的）一次性往复振动

参考例句：

• We could feel the vibrations from the trucks passing outside. 我们可以感到外面卡车经过时的颤动。
• I am drawn to that girl; I get good vibrations from her. 我被那女孩吸引住了，她使我产生良好的感觉。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 villains   

n.恶棍( villain的名词复数 )；罪犯；（小说、戏剧等中的）反面人物；淘气鬼

参考例句：

• The impression of villains was inescapable. 留下恶棍的印象是不可避免的。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Some villains robbed the widow of the savings. 有几个歹徒将寡妇的积蓄劫走了。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

6 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

7 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。

8 mythology   

n.神话，神话学，神话集

参考例句：

• In Greek mythology,Zeus was the ruler of Gods and men.在希腊神话中，宙斯是众神和人类的统治者。
• He is the hero of Greek mythology.他是希腊民间传说中的英雄。

9 innocence   

n.无罪；天真；无害

参考例句：

• There was a touching air of innocence about the boy.这个男孩有一种令人感动的天真神情。
• The accused man proved his innocence of the crime.被告人经证实无罪。

10 addiction   

n.上瘾入迷，嗜好

参考例句：

• He stole money from his parents to feed his addiction.他从父母那儿偷钱以满足自己的嗜好。
• Areas of drug dealing are hellholes of addiction,poverty and murder.贩卖毒品的地区往往是吸毒上瘾、贫困和发生谋杀的地方。

11 dyke   

n.堤，水坝，排水沟

参考例句：

• If one sheep leap over the dyke,all the rest will follow.一只羊跳过沟，其余的羊也跟着跳。
• One ant-hole may cause the collapse of a thousand-li dyke.千里长堤，溃于蚁穴。

12 distinctive   

adj.特别的，有特色的，与众不同的

参考例句：

• She has a very distinctive way of walking.她走路的样子与别人很不相同。
• This bird has several distinctive features.这个鸟具有几种突出的特征。

13 tunes   

n.曲调，曲子( tune的名词复数 )v.调音( tune的第三人称单数 )；调整；（给收音机、电视等）调谐；使协调

参考例句：

• a potpourri of tunes 乐曲集锦
• When things get a bit too much, she simply tunes out temporarily. 碰到事情太棘手时，她干脆暂时撒手不管。 来自《简明英汉词典》

14 legendary   

adj.传奇（中）的，闻名遐迩的；n.传奇（文学）

参考例句：

• Legendary stories are passed down from parents to children.传奇故事是由父母传给孩子们的。
• Odysseus was a legendary Greek hero.奥狄修斯是传说中的希腊英雄。