Yes, that "Ocean of Noise." Thanks to the magic of the internet, we have a live recording of Grammy (and your Granny's) favorite, Norah Jones, covering the sweetest cut from Arcade Fire's Neon Bible. This rendition comes from last week's Sopot International Song Competition in Poland, and if stage banter is to be believed has only been in her band's repertoire for a few days before that. For a new set addition, their performance is quite impressive. The song's key guitar chug is kept faithfully intact, though a country twang creeps into the edges of the supplemental instrumentation. Norah's clear, smooth voice brings more than a dose of Nashville to Win Butler's words as well, making them sound like those of an old radio standard.
It's not surprising that Arcade Fire's material is so easily translated to a mainstream pop style. Number two on the Billboard Charts is hardly the signifier for a cult band, after all. What's really criminal is that the band's songs aren't considered "mainstream" by the gate keepers of commercial radio in the first place. Blinded by major label cash or fear of taking even marginal risks, they preside over a medium that is very clearly broken.

Norah Jones - "Ocean of Noise"
Note: This recording is remarkably clear but very, very soft. So instead of my usual streaming instant gratification, interested parties will have to download the file and then strap on some headphones and jack the volume skyward. Just like you do with all of your Norah Jones records.