Welcome to 2005! With this episode, The Sounds in My Head finally becomes part of the "Podcasting" niche of niches, meaning we now can be accessed with your favorite podcasting app (see side bar for more details). And we start the new year with a great song by what was The Band of Bees, but is now The Bees, who have a new album (not out in the states yet, but will be soon) called Free the Bees and we heard the song "Go Karts" (Amazon, Other Music). Then we heard Chris Joss with a song that sounds like I should be talking over it, but is so good I don't, called "You've Been Spiked" from his album by the same name (iTunes, Amazon, Other Music). Next was Pinback with their five star song "Fortress" from their 3 star album Summer in Abaddon (iTunes, Other Music, Amazon). And finally indie darlings Stereolab did "University Microfilms International" which was released along side their newest album of greatness called Margerine Eclipse but as an iTunes Exclusive track, meaning to get it you've gotta fork over .99¢ to the iTunes Music Store.

First up, Michigan's own Saturday Looks Good to Me did their awesome song "Since You Stole My Heart" from this year's Every Night (Amazon, Other Music). Then we heard The Hidden Cameras with a great song called "In the Union of Wine" from their recent-ish Mississauga Goddam (Amazon, iTunes, Other Music). Next was Erlend Øye from his DJ Kicks album doing a version of The Smiths "There is a Light that Never Goes Out" that is darker and really more fitting than the original called "Poor Leno (Silicone Soul's Hypno House Dub) vs There is a Light That Never Goes Out (Acapella)" (Amazon, Other Music). And finally, one of my favorite new bands (well, in the states anyway) The Concretes did their super great song "Seems Fine" from their self-titled American debut album (iTunes, Other Music, Amazon). Happy New Year friends!

(THE THIRD OF THREE SPECIAL CHRISTMAS EPISODES!) First up, The Polyphonic Spree cover John Lennon's Christmas classic "Happy Christmas (the War is Over)" from Maybe This Christmas Tree (Amazon, iTunes doesn't have this particular song, but they have the album). Then 80's favorites The Waitresses with their lyrically delightful christmas hit "Christmas Wrapping" from their best of (Amazon, iTunes). Then Sufjan Stevens did "O Holy Night" from his internet pseudo-release Christmas which offered eight Christmas songs free of charge (check it!). After that the classic version of Kay Starr doing "I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm" became the "Stuhr Remix" on the groovaliciously good album Christmas Remixed - Holiday Classics Re-Grooved (Amazon, iTunes). And finally E (aka The Eels) did his totally unfindable version of "Everything's Gonna Be Cool This Christmas" which only appeared on a radio promo for his crappy song "Shine it All On." Later he released a different (worse) version of it on the Eels' Cancer for a Cure EP. Since you pretty much can't find this version elsewhere, you can download it from me as a nice 192k MP3. Merry Christmas everybody... and Happy Holidays in general.

(THE SECOND OF THREE SPECIAL CHRISTMAS EPISODES!) First up, the band Corporal Blossom did their combination of many different white christmases into one glorious rendition of "White Christmas" which can be found on their Christmas album Mutated Christmas (Amazon) and on the Stay Free Magazine cd compilation Illegal Art. Then we heard Stevie Wonder himself with his classic "What Christmas Means to Me" from A Motown Christmas (Amazon, iTunes) and probably on some other album I don't have. Next we heard Dallas' own Dave Little with his novelty song "Dysfunctional Family Christmas" from his album Another Leggy Super Model. (His website was up until, literally, like a week ago. I don't know how you can get a copy of it now. Maybe he'll pay network solutions and it'll come back up). Then The Brian Setzer Orchestra covered the Les Brown & his Band of Renown version of "The Nutcracker Suite" from their Boogie Woogie Christmas (Amazon, iTunes). And lastly, topping off the show with a classic that's worth tacking on to the end, The Pogues (with special guest Kirsty MacColl) did "Fairytale of New York" from their album If I Should Fall From Grace with God (Amazon), and their greatest hits record (Amazon) which is good good good.

(THE FIRST OF THREE SPECIAL CHRISTMAS EPISODES! First up, the sadly defunct band Squirrel Nut Zippers "Sleigh Ride" from their 1998 Christmas album Christmas Caravan, which there is no valid excuse for not owning (Amazon). Then we heard the Duluth band Low with their song "Just Like Christmas" from their album Christmas (Amazon, Other Music) but you can also get it on the new-this-year Christmas record The OC: Mix 3 Have A Very Merry Chrismukkah (iTunes, Amazon) which I understand has something to do with some TV show I have never seen but I'm sure isn't as good as their Christmas album. Next we heard ex-Smoking Pope Josh Carter's band Duvall with their version of "O Holy Night" from their new Christmas album by the same name (iTunes, Amazon), and I have to tell you, it's better than their non-xmas releases so far. And finally John Denver and The Muppets did my favorite version of one of my favorite Christmas songs "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" from their incredibly affordable A Christmas Together (Amazon) though this song doesn't seem to be on the cheap release, so maybe it's not all that affordable after all (eBay). It was a duet between Rolf and John. For all your Muppet needs, I HIGHLY recommend Danny Horn's ToughPigs.com. [Oh, and because it's just that good, I included a special bonus song from the OC xmas album: The Raveonettes' song "The Christmas Song"]

First up, a new and exciting act out of New York City, The Affair, with their song "Honey" from the Vice Records 7" single Seven Inch Lovers vol. 2 (INsound). They'll probably have an album or an EP or something coming out soon. In the meantime you can download some great songs from their website. If you like "Honey," check out "Fashion Victim." Then the UK's soon-to-be-ex-band Gene did "Sleep Well Tonight" from their 1995 album Olympian (Amazon). Then another UK act, Nu Generation, remixed the classic Fontella Bass song "Rescue Me" into their danceable tune "In Your Arms (Rescue Me)" from their EP by the same name (Amazon). And lastly we heard Deerhoof with "Milking" from their latest album Milk Man (iTunes, Amazon, Other Music). This site has a bunch of downloadable Deerhoof mp3s.

First up, New Mexico's The Shins with "Young Pilgrims" from their incredible second album Chutes Too Narrow (iTunes, Amazon, Other Music). They also have a new EP out, so look for that. Next up Dallas' Cowboys and Indians with "Roly Poly" from a Dallas local music disc which is probably not findable unless you can go to a used shop in Dallas, called Scene, Heard. You can download the song as a 192k mp3 here, since you can't actually buy it. Then Geggy Tah said 'thank you' with their song "Whoever You Are" from their 1996 semi-hit Sacred Cow (Amazon). And finally ultra-gay punk rockers Pansy Division did "Cowboys are Frequently Secretly Fond of Each Other" from their album Pile Up (iTunes, Amazon).