Why Karen Revisited is the best SY song ever

DanielCarlson · 07.30.2009, 12:41 PM

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.

Leetdude · 07.30.2009, 12:51 PM

We kissed
Time slipped
Hard edged
Tight lipped
See you
Some time

ASK

ME

IF

I

CAAAAAAAAAAAAAARE

noisereductions · 07.30.2009, 01:26 PM

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.

noisereductions · 07.30.2009, 01:27 PM

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

Rob Instigator · 07.30.2009, 01:29 PM

i LOVE that fuKKKK9ijn songgggg

atsonicpark · 07.30.2009, 01:30 PM

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

DanielCarlson · 07.30.2009, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by noisereductions

The first time I heard "Karenology" I remember thinking WITHIN MOMENTS of it starting, "This is one of the best SY songs ever. EVER." .

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.

Kannibal · 07.30.2009, 04:40 PM

last great SY album song.

Gary Black · 07.30.2009, 05:00 PM

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

Toxa · 07.30.2009, 05:07 PM

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

Quote:

Part of the outro on the LP version is taken from the 10/07/01 debut of the song in NYC.

Gary Black · 07.30.2009, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toxa

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

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

SonikJesus · 07.30.2009, 05:54 PM

yes. live

noisereductions · 07.30.2009, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary Black

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

Becuz yr a fucking noob!

Haha, just kidding, man.

exploding plastic candle · 07.30.2009, 07:59 PM

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

noisereductions · 07.30.2009, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by exploding plastic candle

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.

notyourfiend · 07.30.2009, 09:12 PM

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

But I can always dream

Pax Americana · 07.30.2009, 09:47 PM

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

joe11121 · 07.31.2009, 01:26 AM

Really great song!

atsonicpark · 07.31.2009, 01:32 AM

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.

dasx · 07.31.2009, 03:24 AM

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.

07.30.2009, 12:41 PM	#1
DanielCarlson children of satan Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 345	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.
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07.30.2009, 12:51 PM	#2
Leetdude little trouble girl Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 52	We kissed Time slipped Hard edged Tight lipped See you Some time ASK ME IF I CAAAAAAAAAAAAAARE
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07.30.2009, 01:26 PM	#3
noisereductions invito al cielo Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: New England, USA Posts: 16,210	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. __________________ noisereduxinstalled.weebly.com
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07.30.2009, 01:27 PM	#4
noisereductions invito al cielo Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: New England, USA Posts: 16,210	(attn: so called n00bs... THIS is how you make a new thread around here and get a positive response.) __________________ noisereduxinstalled.weebly.com
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07.30.2009, 01:29 PM	#5
Rob Instigator invito al cielo Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: In the land of the Instigator Posts: 27,961	i LOVE that fuKKKK9ijn songgggg __________________ RXTT's Intellectual Journey - my new blog where I talk about all the books I read.
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07.30.2009, 01:30 PM	#6
atsonicpark invito al cielo Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 28,843	I like the last 8 minutes a lot. Nothing like a good mixing board solo! __________________
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07.30.2009, 04:40 PM	#8
Kannibal children of satan Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 305	last great SY album song.
	\|QUOTE AND REPLY\|

07.30.2009, 05:00 PM	#9
Gary Black little trouble girl Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 32	What's the story with the clapping at the end? Was the last part of the song recorded live? Does anybody know?
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07.30.2009, 05:54 PM	#12
SonikJesus the end of the ugly Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 998	yes. live
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07.30.2009, 07:59 PM	#14
exploding plastic candle children of satan Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 288	now here's a song they should bring back. I wonder if it's doable without Jim.
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07.30.2009, 09:12 PM	#16
notyourfiend expwy. to yr skull Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: baltimore, murderland by way of new york city Posts: 1,454	I personally can't imagine it being done without Jim :-/ But I can always dream __________________
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07.30.2009, 09:47 PM	#17
Pax Americana expwy. to yr skull Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Buffalo, NY Posts: 1,187	It is a fabulous jam. Love the way it builds.
	\|QUOTE AND REPLY\|

07.31.2009, 01:26 AM	#18
joe11121 expwy. to yr skull Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Brantford, Canada Posts: 1,843	Really great song!
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07.31.2009, 01:32 AM	#19
atsonicpark invito al cielo Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 28,843	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. __________________
	\|QUOTE AND REPLY\|

07.31.2009, 03:24 AM	#20
dasx children of satan Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Helsinki, Finland Posts: 307	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. __________________ www.soundcloud.com/black-spy www.soundcloud.com/haikala
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