Murray Street (sometimes written as Murray St.) is the twelfth studio album by American rock band Sonic Youth, released on June 25, 2002 by DGC Records. Murray Street is the first album by the band to feature Jim O'Rourke as an official fifth member to bolster the group's sound. Background and recording Recording began in August 2001 in the band's Echo Canyon studio in New York City, following their final NYC Ghosts and Flowers/Goodbye to the 20th Century tour. The first release of material from the sessions was the song "Plastic Sun", on a promotional CD included with an issue of Jane magazine. However, due to an error in the pitch, the band re-released the song on their website. Recording sessions reached an unexpected halt on September 11, 2001, following the terrorist attacks, as the band instead led a Trade Center benefit festival on October 9. Several other benefits and gigs led them to their rescheduled March 17, 2002, appearance at the All Tomorrow's Parties festival in Los Angeles, California. By then, recording and mixing for the album was complete and all seven tracks (first revealed on the band website) were played at the festival. The new material was hailed as a return to the style of distorted and complex instrumentals that made the band underground favorites. Content Art director Frank Olinsky led the conception of the cover designs. The young blonde-haired girl pictured to the right on the album's cover is Coco Gordon-Moore, Thurston Moore and Kim Gordon's daughter, picking strawberries with her friend, Stella, who is on the left. No title is shown on the cover, just a scrawled "SONIC YOUTH". The three-page, double-sided CD booklet, whose cover features a reverse color image of the CD cover, includes liner notes, photographs and album credits. The back cover depicts the Murray Street street sign. Release In early June 2002, Murray Street was released in Japan with the bonus track, "Street Sauce". June 10 was the release date in Europe and June 25 was the release in North America. In France, 500 copies came with a limited-edition bonus blue vinyl 10" EP, named Kali Yug Express, which featured three exclusive tracks from their recent soundtrack developments: "Derniere Minute Electrifee" on one side, "Le Paysage Zim Zum" and "Coca Neon Kamera Sutra" on the other. In North America, the disc was enhanced, including a screen saver and link to a "secret"