Why Karen Revisited is the best SY song ever
 

Murray Street has been one of my favorite SY albums even since I first got it, and the in my opinion best song of it has always been Lee's Karen Revisited (or Karenology, whatever you prefer). It's fantastic. The first half of it is Sonic Rock at it's most epic. The guitars and chord changes are orgasmic and not really like anything else they have done. It's beautiful and dark and at the same time quite brutal. The vocals are perfect. The lyrics are Lee at his best.

2.30 into the song (and a bit before that) I've always got goosebumps. It's such a great climax and when you don't think it can get any better they go into Sonic Feedback mode for a while. Nothing special for them - at first. After a couple of minutes it gets slower and slower and then, a bit after the six minute mark, the most beautiful dreamlike guitar you can imagine start to play. Then they go into feedback mode again, but this time it's not as harsch and really really beautiful. When it stops with a couple of minutes left and they begin with that slide guitar thing or whatever it is, you're exhausted - in a really great way. For me it's not just my favorite SY tune, sometimes I even think it's the greatest song evah. It should have been called Better Than Sex.

What I want to say with this? Don't know haha, maybe just see if someone agrees with me. I just listened to it another three times in a row and really needed to express how fantastic it is. :)

The first time I heard "Karenology" I remember thinking WITHIN MOMENTS of it starting, "This is one of the best SY songs ever. EVER." And it was one of THOSE rare songs that I just kept playing over and over again each time it ended. Beautiful and perfect.

(attn: so called n00bs... THIS is how you make a new thread around here and get a positive response.)

i LOVE that fuKKKK9ijn songgggg

I like the last 8 minutes a lot. Nothing like a good mixing board solo!

Yes, it was exactly the same for me. Those first chords are so damn spellbounding that you have to listen to the whole song after hearing them.

last great SY album song.

What's the story with the clapping at the end? Was the last part of the song recorded live? Does anybody know?

http://www.sonicyouth.com/mustang/sy/song328.html

Thanks. Duh, why didn't I think to check there?

yes. live

Becuz yr a fucking noob!

Haha, just kidding, man. :)

now here's a song they should bring back. I wonder if it's doable without Jim.

in theory, yeah. I mean... yeah. I think so. I saw them twice on the MS tour, and I'd be fine if they still did the entire MS album live now.

I personally can't imagine it being done without Jim :-/

But I can always dream

It is a fabulous jam. Love the way it builds.

Really great song!

It was a massive spectacle thats for sure and I saw a lot that I liked. The sculptures, the costumes, set pieces, etc. All the design aesthetics were great and I was happy. I caught various bits of all the films throughout the museum but the only one I watched all the way thru was #5 (the opera). And I had mixed feelings. I liked it visually but something was lacking. I really wanted to like it, to feel that it was good and meaningful but in the end I felt let down.

I's great song, but to me it's not their best and not even the best of all Lee songs.

I saw Sonic Youth on Murray Street european tour. Karenology, Radical Adults and Strawberry were absolute highlights of the gig. Especially last 7 minutes of Karenology and noise end of Radical Adults kicked ass!

I don't think they're gonna play those songs without Jim and that's sad.

It fucking sucks.

Just kidding. Damn it, there has to be someone out there who doesn't like it. Could this be SY's missed oppertunity for a #1 hit single?

When MS came out I was still working in a record store and got a promo (and a pile of Murray Street sign stickers). Anyway, I remember playing it in the store a LOT and when "Karen Rev" came on, my manager at the time (major label narc type) was like "hey this is pretty good," and then about a minute into the feedback outro he said,very seriously, "Why would they DO this?" haha.

You're often an annoying prick, on a lot of these SY-related threads. Did anyone tell you that already?

felt-tip electric childe.

Incredible song. The band's almost never been more spot on than with this one.

Good call, OP. I'm going to put it on right now.

I've been on a thousand leaves kick and now i can't decide if i prefer karenology or koltrane....

got it playing on repeat right now.

Perhaps a third part to the song is in order: Return of the Karen

maybe it will be on Lee's solo album?

I thought it was kool how he threw in "Koltrane" to the lyrics, I like their jazz references/enthusiasm...