Mr. Little Jeans, the stage name of Norwegian musician Monica Birkenes, was spotlighted last winter by the Guardian in a “new band of the day” feature. The paper proclaimed her a potential heir to Kylie Minogue’s electro-pop throne. This week, though, she left the club behind in favor of “The Suburbs,” covering the title track from Arcade Fire’s Grammy-winning third album.
The Suburbs has spawned a multitude of covers since its release last summer, with “We Used to Wait” taking the lead as the most popular track for other artists to adopt. Mr. Little Jeans gravitates toward the gentle, mid-tempo pop of “The Suburbs” instead, then subverts the track with a slow wash of electronic ripples. Birkenes’ vocals, at turns ethereal and slightly sinister, darken the track, adding a dash of nightmare to a dreamy reimagination.
MP3: Mr. Little Jeans – The Suburbs (Arcade Fire cover)
[audio: News0511/27TheSuburbs.mp3|artists=Mr Little Jeans|titles=The Suburbs]
Hear more from Mr. Little Jeans at her website or Myspace.
