(SPECIAL BEE-BANDS EPISODE!) Lots of bands seem to use the word "Bee" in their names these days. I recently noticed that even non-bee-named bands have been using bees in their songs lately (in just the last few episodes I've played "The Bee of the Bird of the Moth" by TMBG, and a I was a Teenage Satan Worshipper song from their Bees & Honey EP. So this episode singles out some of the better "Bee Bands" of late. First up, TSiMH favorites UK's Bees (formally The Band of Bees) have a new album called Octopus (iTunes, Amazon), from which we heard two stand out tracks: "End of the Street" and "Got to Let Go". Next Russian-born San Fransico-based Angelina Moysov's Persephone's Bees debut album Notes from the Underworld (Amazon) is filled with indie gems containing influences of Japanese pop and old school Of Montreal. We heard two tracks, the single "Nice Day" as well as "Climbing". Then Australia's electronic/rock/hip-hop outfit Bumblebeez 81 did "Pony Ride" from his 2004 album The Printz (iTunes, Amazon). Next Minneapolis Minnesota's Mouthful of Bees just released their debut album The End (iTunes, eMusic, Amazon) and while it's not my favorite thing ever, the opening track "The Now" is pretty darn good. Then Philadelphia's indie folk The Bees and the Birds did "Birds and da Bees" from their quality debut self-titled EP (iTunes, eMusic). And finally Los Angeles' indie-electro-pop makers The Bird and the Bee did "My Fair Lady" from their debut self-titled album (iTunes, Amazon). This episode features bee-related clips from Michael Moore's Bowling for Columbine (imdb, Netflix, Amazon) and Real Time with Bill Maher (subscribe, watch the whole clip).