2006年VOA标准英语-Paul Simon Returns With a "Surpirse"

Paul Simon's new album "Surprise" has a surprising musical quality not heard on his previous albums. But there's one unsurprising element on it; Simon's ongoing¹ concern for the human condition.

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Musically, "Surprise" is no "Graceland," Simon's 1986 Grammy-winning album. Nor does it sound like his earlier solo work, or for that matter, like Simon and Garfunkel. Instead, Paul Simon's first studio album in six years is in a category all its own.

If there was such a category for "Surprise," it might be "electronic ambient folk rock."

Simon has Grammy-winning producer and keyboardist Brian Eno to thank for creating the album's ethereal arrangements. Eno, who pioneered ambient music in the late-'70s, and later produced albums for Devo, The Talking Heads and U2, is credited for providing the sonic landscape on "Surprise."

Reminiscent of Eno's production on U2's "The Joshua Tree," the infinite guitar intro on "Another Galaxy²" takes a full minute-and-a-half before we hear Paul Simon's vocal³.

While his music varies from album to album, Simon continues to invoke⁴ his melancholy⁵ musings. Among his recurring⁶ themes are relationships, faith, aging and inequality, themes that resurface on "Surprise."

Refreshing⁷ to hear is "Father And Daughter," the poignant⁸, Oscar-nominated ballad⁹ from the film "The Wild Thornberrys," and re-released for the closing song on "Surprise."

1 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

2 galaxy   

n.星系；银河系；一群(杰出或著名的人物)

参考例句：

• The earth is one of the planets in the Galaxy.地球是银河系中的星球之一。
• The company has a galaxy of talent.该公司拥有一批优秀的人才。

3 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。

4 invoke   

v.求助于(神、法律)；恳求，乞求

参考例句：

• Let us invoke the blessings of peace.让我们祈求和平之福。
• I hope I'll never have to invoke this clause and lodge a claim with you.我希望我永远不会使用这个条款向你们索赔。

5 melancholy   

n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的

参考例句：

• All at once he fell into a state of profound melancholy.他立即陷入无尽的忧思之中。
• He felt melancholy after he failed the exam.这次考试没通过，他感到很郁闷。

6 recurring   

adj.往复的，再次发生的

参考例句：

• This kind of problem is recurring often. 这类问题经常发生。
• For our own country, it has been a time for recurring trial. 就我们国家而言，它经过了一个反复考验的时期。

7 refreshing   

adj.使精神振作的，使人清爽的，使人喜欢的

参考例句：

• I find it'so refreshing to work with young people in this department.我发现和这一部门的青年一起工作令人精神振奋。
• The water was cold and wonderfully refreshing.水很涼，特别解乏提神。

8 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。

9 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。