(SPECIAL GUEST-HOSTED BY ROB WALKER ST. JAMES INFIRMARY EPISODE!) In this episode, prolific writer Rob Walker (NO Notes, NY Times Magazine: Consumed Columnist, murketing.com, and book) takes us on a guided tour of his favorite song: "Saint James Infirmary." First up, the quintessential rendition of "St. James Infirmary" by Louis Armstrong which can be found on any umber of compilations (eMusic, iTunes, Amazon). Next, a version by Jack Teagarden which is on his album Father of Jazz Trombone (eMusic, iTunes, Amazon). Then a version by Pérez Prado from which can be obtained on his album Voodoo Suite (iTunes, Amazon). Then a version by TV's Andy Griffith which you can get on his album What it is Andy Griffith (Amazon). Next was a version called "St. James Infirmary Blues" by The White Stripes from their self-titled debut (eMusic, iTunes, Amazon). Then a version by Snooks Eaglin from the album New Orleans Street Singer (eMusic, iTunes, Amazon). Then a version called "The Dyin' Crapshooter's Blues" by Blind Willie McTell from among other things Atlanta Twelve String (iTunes, Amazon). Next was a version by Ingrid Lucia & The Flying Neutrinos from the album Live from New Orleans (iTunes, Amazon). Then a version from Saturday Night Live by Lily Tomlin which is available in the Complete First Season collection (iTunes, Amazon). And finally, perhaps Rob's favorite version, one called "Those Gamblers' Blues" by bluesman Jimmie Rodgers on Recordings 1927-1933 (eMusic, iTunes, Amazon). In this episode Rob mentions a Betty Boop cartoon featuring Cab Calloway performing "St. James Infirmary," you can watch that part of said cartoon here.

First up, NYC's own up-and-coming indie heros Vampire Weekend did "Mansard Roof", the title-track from their recent 2 song EP (iTunes, eMusic). While in Paris I may have missed Vampire Weekend, but I made it in time for The Shins, so we heard a remix of their song "Austrailia" by Bjorn (of Sweden's Peter, Bjorn and John), which can be found on the recently released benefit complication Big Change: Songs for FINCA (iTunes) which is not only inexpensive, but for a great cause. What? The Shins aren't a big enough draw? How's about we lay down other great unreleased songs by Norah Jones, Rogue Wave, M. Ward, Antony and The Johnsons, and Tokyo Police Club? Still not convinced to shell out the $8? Ok, well take a listen to this gem from Brooklyn's Beirut called "My Night With the Prostitute from Marseille" from the same album. Now you better pay up! Next we heard two covers of Belle & Sebastian songs from a compilation called Century of Covers - Belle & Sebastian Tribute (download here). First was a radically different take on "Ease Your Feet in the Sea" done by Belgium's Austin Lace, then a charming version of "I'm a Cuckoo" by Sweden's Billie the Vision & The Dancers. Next Chicago's Office, who I played a couple of years ago, have a new album called A Night at the Ritz (iTunes, eMusic, Amazon), consisting primarily of old songs which have been re-recorded. One of the songs I played previously was "Oh My", we here it again on this show, but the new version. And finally, East Los Angeles' Quetzal did a song perhaps more likely to be found on Ritmo Latino than TSiMH called "No Te Ofendas" from their album Die Cowboy Die (iTunes, eMusic, Amazon). This episode features clips from an episode of The Family Guy called "Mother Tucker" which you can watch a clip from here.

First up, ex-Concrete Victoria Bergsman's new band Taken By Trees has released their new album Open Field (iTunes, eMusic, Amazon), from which we heard "Hours Pass Like Centuries". Next Brooklyn's own Les Chauds Lapins (who do wonderful renditions of French classics) did two songs from their debut album Parlez-Moi D'amour (CD Baby), we heard "Swing Troubadour" and "Mon Rêve C'etait Vous". Then Berlin's Stereo Total did "Baby Revolution" from their recent album Paris-Berlin (iTunes, eMusic, Amazon). Next Scotland's indie rock the 1990's (not to be confused with a band I played a while ago caled 1900's) did two good songs from their remarkably hit-and-miss debut album Cookies (iTunes, eMusic, Amazon). Then Sweden's Envelopes did "Smoke in the Desert, Eating the Sand, Hiding in the Grass" from their forthcoming new record, and current single by the same name (iTunes, eMusic). And finally Brooklyn's Elizabeth Harper who I played not too long ago has a new EP The Covent of the Immaculate Heart which contains a remix of her fantastic song "Let Me Take You Out" which I played previously. We heard that remix, perhaps consider picking up her self-titled album (iTunes). This episode features clips from CNN's The Situation Room about Bush seeking billions more for his Iraq adventure just after vetoing funding for children's healthcare (watch the whole clip here). And a series of clips from Saturday Night Live's Weekend Update about the latest gay-hating-gay-republican Larry Craig (watch it here).

First up, we heard Brooklyn's own Au Revoir Simone with "A Violent Yet Flammable World" from their new album The Bird of Music (iTunes, eMusic, Amazon MP3), which almost sounds like it could have been on The Bird and the Bee's album. Then was fellow New York City singer-songwriter Elvis Perkins doing the best song off his new album Ash Wednesday (iTunes, eMusic, Amazon MP3) called "May Day!". Next was a cut from a pretty good new Bob Marley remix album called Roots, Rock, Remixed (iTunes, eMusic, Amazon MP3) by Afrodisiac Sound System. The song we heard was a remixed "Soul Shakedown Party". Then we heard two songs from Sweden's Jens Lekman's brand new album from called Night Falls Over Kortedala (iTunes, eMusic, Amazon). We heard "A Postcard to Nina" and "Your Arms Around Me". And finally fellow Swede and sometimes Nick Drake sound-double Jose Gonzalez did a great song called "How Low" from his great new album In Our Nature (iTunes, Amazon MP3). This episode features clips from the October 9th episode of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart discussing how George W. Bush describes actions rather than actually doing them.

First up, the UK's Patrick Wolf with the excellent title track from his otherwise decent, most recent album The Magic Position (iTunes, Amazon). Next was two tracks from the new album from Sweden's Shout Out Louds, namely the intensely-Cure-like "Normandie" and the also great "South America" both from Our Ill Wills (iTunes, eMusic, Amazon MP3). Then was London-by-way-of-Canada's Caribou (formerly known as Manitoba) with two excelent songs "Melody Day" and "Sandy" both from the fantastic new album Andorra (iTunes, eMusic, Amazon MP3). Another TSiMH favorite The Go! Team's new album Proof of Youth (iTunes, Amazon) is out, and while it's perhaps not AS good as their debut, it's pretty great. We heard "Doing it Right" and "Patricia's Moving Picture". Next was a new song from NYC's Nellie McKay's new album Obligatory Villagers (iTunes, Amazon MP3) called "Identity Theft" which is better than most of the songs on the new album, but still not her best work. And finally Brooklyn's own Beirut's new album The Flying Club Cup (iTunes, eMusic, Amazon) is out, and from it we heard "In the Mausoleum".This episode featured a clip from The Daily Show with Jon Stewart informing Bush he needn't feel obligated to provide charity soundbytes for their show. Also were clips from Real Time with Bill Maher which you can watch here (podcast).

(SPECIAL BONUS GUEST-HOSTED AUSTRALIA EPISDOE WITH DOUG!) First up, Kevin Mitchell AKA Bob Evans did "Darlin Won't You Come" from the album Suburban Songbook (iTunes, Amazon). Next Gerling with "Ghost Patrol" from Children of Telepathic Experience (Amazon). Then Ben Lee did "Nothing Much Happens" from Breathing Tornados (Amazon). Then Josh Pyke did "Middle of the Hill" from Memories & Dust (Amazon). Next was Perth's Eskimo Joe with "London Bombs" from Black Fingernails, Red Wine (iTunes, Amazon). Next the disco sounds of Sneaky Sound System with "Pictures" from their self-titled record (iTunes, Amazon) from last year. Then The Waifs did a song I'd never heard call "London Still" from 2003's Up All Night (iTunes, Amazon). Then Paul Kelly did "Every Fucking City" from his Roll on Summer EP (Amazon). Next was Steven Peace doing an untitled song which is unreleased. Then Augie March did "Bottle Baby" from Moo, You Bloody Choir (iTunes, Amazon). Then Pete Murray did "Opportunity" from See the Sun (Amazon). And finally ex-Lemonhead (and little-known-favorite-of-Daniel) Evan Dando did a cover a Ben Lee's "Hard Drive" from Baby I'm Bored (iTunes, eMusic, Amazon). NOTE: I should explain... Doug is a longtime listener of the show who hails from Australia (tho he's currently in the UK). We have corresponded over the years, and following last week's special Australia and New Zealand episode, he went all out and created a special episode just for me. It was so good it warrented being heard far-and-wide, so I'm posting it as a bonus, guest-hosted show. Now enjoy!

(SPECIAL EXTRA-LONG, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND EPISODE!) First up, Melbourne's Architecture in Helsinki have a new album out called Places Like This (iTunes, eMusic, Amazon) and the best song on that album is "Heart it Races" which they released as a single, and on that single (iTunes, eMusic, Amazon) are several covers of the song, including the one we heard by Philidelphia's Dr Dog. Next two songs from New Zealand's comedic Flight of the Conchords' awesome HBO series by the same name, we heard "If That's What You're Into" and "Beautiful Girl" (iTunes). Then Western Australia's indie folk band The Waifs did "The Waitress" from their album Sink or Swim (iTunes, eMusic, Amazon). Next Sydney's 90's era Spdfgh did "Swingsong" from their 1995 Grassroots EP (Amazon). Next Melbourne's young indie pop guru Julian Nation did "Press Gang Kids" from his debut We Are All Writers (order online). Next TSiMH favorites Aukland's The Brunettes did "If You Were Alien" from their recent Structure & Cosmetics (iTunes, Amazon). Then Brisbane's pop/punk The Grates did "Science is Golden" from their debut album Gravity Won't Get You High (iTunes, Amazon). Next Australian country-folk hero Slim Dusty did "Click Go the Shears" which can be found on his album Australian Traditional Collection (Amazon). Then Melbourne's Sally Seltman (a sometimes guitarist for Spdfg) aka New Buffalo did "Emotional Champ" from her brand new record Somewhere, Anywhere (iTunes, eMusic, Amazon). Next Sydney's jazz parody master Frank Bennett did a cover of Depeche Mode's "Everything Counts" from his 1998 album Cash Landing (Amazon). Hearing Frank Bennett made me have to play the prolific American follow up, Richard Cheese with a cover of Coldplay's "Yellow" and The Clash's "Rock the Casbah" both from his 2004 I'd Like a Virgin (iTunes, eMusic, Amazon). And finally 50's/60's era pop musician Jimmie Rodgers did a cover of the traditional Australian tune "Waltzing Matilda" which you can get on The Best of Jimmie Rodgers (iTunes, eMusic, Amazon). This episode features clips from comedians Todd Barry (iTunes) and Bill Hicks (iTunes) discussing Australia, as well as clips from various episodes of HBO's The Flight of the Conchords.