"Where Have You Been, Little Boy?"

Let me start by apologizing. Lately, I've been eating and playing and loving so much.  It's been well over a month since my last post, and though I realize this blog does not have many "loyal" readers, I still feel as though I have abandoned this blog. So, sorry. I must advise you that, though the details of my food and music-related milestones haven't been verbally expressed here, thoughts of them have been swirling though my head; thronged, like a slippery, over-crowded orgy. Of course, I want to share these things with you. Of course, I want to have these events logged so I can, at any moment, revisit them and say, "Yeah, man, that was awesome!"

So.. does this mean I am prepared to begin posting on a regular basis? Probably not.
Does this mean Stuck-in-my-head Sunday will resume today? Maybe.


What I would like to do, though, is lay down some of the things I have experienced over the period of my impromptu absence. Let me categorize them and randomly list things.


EAT
I have eaten some great, great food. I've packed an already countless number of picnics with a new love. I've prepared some great meals and shared them with my family. I've become acquainted with new restaurants and a few incredible people who've become new friends. I've caught up with old friends and welcomed the Summer-season with an unforgettable crawfish boil. I've reunited with a Tex-Mex restaurant, trips to which were scattered throughout my childhood. I've topped everything from burgers to hummus with a bottled sauce from a popular wing joint. I've introduced my taste buds to one of the best beers they've had the pleasure of bathing in. I've enjoyed a ballpark hotdog at a baseball game with a pair awesome lesbian colleagues.

PLAY
I have soaked myself in musical goodness. I've watched and listened to Guster in concert. (Dude, Guster!) I've listened to long-anticipated, new music from Incubus, and Foo Fighters, bands I will always support. I've taken advantage of the opportunity to introduce one of my brothers to the art of musical instrumentation. I've taken my mandolin out of hiding and expressed emotion in one of the greatest ways. I've finally met a percussionist/guitarist with whom not only can I jam, but who is extremely accessible, shares my enthusiasm for the art of musical expression, and can play at a caliber which nestles gently on the bosom that is my musical ability. This has allowed me to (finally) find range in my guitar-playing style, and help me curiously and eagerly wander out of the commonly-folksy/bluesy acoustic nest I've built myself.

Trust, friends, that there has been so much going on; so much awesomeness that I want to share. I hope to explain each of these things in more detail, and if that happens later rather than sooner, please know that I am continuously eating, playing, and loving.

Eric

Stuck-in-my-head Sunday: Innocent Bones

Iron & Wine is the stage name of singer-songwriter, Samuel Beam. Iron & Wine has been quietly releasing music since 2002, but has gained quite the following only in the last few years. Released earlier this year, Kiss Each Other Clean is a pretty-sounding album that peaked at number two on the Billboard Top 200. It's the notable impression of 2007's The Shepherd's Dog that got Iron & Wine stuck in my head this week, though. I think that "patient" is the most suitable adjective for describing this album; particularly the track Innocent Bones.

I don't remember when it was that I actually heard of Iron & Wine, but after being turned on by a recent performance on Conan, I was motivated to dig deeper into the basket of audible goodies this guy was offering. Of course, on Conan the new album was being pushed, and, like I said, it sounds great but Innocent Bones from The Shepherd's Dog is lyrical genius. I live almost too close to my place of employment so I try to kick my American heritage to the side and walk to work. During my walks this week, I've been absorbing Innocent Bones in all of it's splendor.

Song: Innocent Bones
Artist: Iron & Wine
Album: The Shepherd's Dog
Genre: folk rock

You'll like this song if you dig:
Dave Matthews Band
The Decemberists
Horse Feathers

Stuck-in-my-head Sunday: Shake Me Down

Cage the Elephant is a fairly young band that has made quite the impact on the alternative music scene since the release of  it's self-titled debut album in 2006, and, whether you want to or not, you know who they are. The 'guys in Cage the Elephant are known for their creative style in both music and video, as well as their high-energy live shows. The group's first few singles caught my attention, but the rest of that first album didn't necessarily stick with me. Recently, though, new (Pixie-like) album, Thank You Happy Birthday, has been released, and it's first single, Shake Me Down has been stuck in my head.

I get music from many different sources, but it's not very typical for me to (repeatedly) jam a tune that's blowing up today's pop airwaves. Due to the recent ceasing of the free trial subscription to a particular satellite radio service in my truck, I've reluctantly and figuratively painfully reverted to the commercial-laden pit that is Houston FM radio. This transition hasn't been all bad, though. I've been able to sate a certain level of nostalgia in catching a few segments of the well-known and ever-popular Rod Ryan Show on 9.45 The Buzz, Houston's go-to alternative station. The Buzz is also where I first heard Shake Me Down. The tune was catchy, and after the first time, I made a point to pay more attention to it during subsequent listens. It was the subconscious persuasion of a certain someone, however, that resulted in Shake Me Down getting stuck in my head. I enjoyed the music video, and after reviewing Thank You Happy Birthday in it's entirety, this track is definitely one that says, "Hey, listen to me again!"

Song: Shake Me Down
Artist: Cage the Elephant
Album: Thank You Happy Birthday
Genre: alternative rock
Video: click here

You'll like this song if you dig:
Pixies
Crash Kings
Cold War Kids
Silversun Pickups

Stuck-in-my-head Sunday: Give Up the Ghost

Radiohead, though formed in the mid-eighties, released their first single in the early-nineties, gained momentum through the mid-nineties, and were internationally recognized group by the late-nineties. I'd imagine that 1997's album, OK Computer could top the 'landmark records list' of any lover of alternative rock. Being known for the noticeable evolution of their musical style throughout the early-2000s, Radiohead managed to build up quite a stir over their latest release, The King of Limbs.  Since it's release, The King of Limbs has endured reviews that exhibit excitement as well as heartbreak. Being just a moderate fan of Radiohead, I'll share this week's review of Give Up the Ghost without any evident level of bias toward the album itself.

I was able to obtain the album on the first day the digital download was made available on Radiohead's website. I was heavily anticipating the release of this record, so, like an overly excited child on Christmas morning, I gave The King of Limbs quick listen as soon as the download was complete. As previously mentioned, I had already been hooked by the bait that is Lotus Flower, so I enjoyed that track once more and let the others play while I distracted by whatever else was going on that evening. It wasn't until I got in bed that night that I began to really dissect The King of Limbs and compare it to previous Radiohead works. Upon doing so,  I was surrounded by comfort as the speakers of my bedside mp3 player gently exhaled track number four, Give Up the Ghost. Since, I've had iTunes create a Genius playlist based on the song, and it's been my go-to track for a majority of this week.

Song: Give Up the Ghost
Artist: Radiohead
Album: The King of Limbs
Genre: alternative rock, experimental rock

You'll like this song if you dig:
Radiohead

Stuck-in-my-head...Monday?: an Apology

Dudes,

I realize I missed posting yesterday, and I apologize. I'm still eating, playing, and loving but, along with minor computer problems, my time (and thoughts, really) have been elsewhere. For the record, so much music has been stuck in my head this week. As mentioned before, I've been jamming like crazy to the harmonizing lulls of The Decemberists and, as you (should) know, Radiohead hooked our junk up with new album The King of Limbs late last week. Radiohead front man Thom Yorke can be seen busting a move in the video to the new album's first single Lotus Flower. You can expect to see SIMHS posts return this Sunday. I hope you enjoy the rest of this week.

Eric

Stuck-in-my-head Sunday: Next Girl

The Black Keys are a two-man band with a huge sound. They've been providing the world with their funky-ass, bluesy rock since 2001 and have done so with a very impressive might. The band's (self-produced!) first album, The Big Come Up, introduced the dudes to a noteworthy amount of success, despite them being a band so new. Over the next nine years, The Black Keys would continue to record albums whose contents would be featured in movies, on television, and in video games, but it's 2010's album, Brothers that holds the easily-relatable track, Next Girl.

I had intermittently heard (but not necessarily listened to) The Black Keys over the past few years. I knew who they were, and I'd noticed a few tracks on the radio every now and again, but I failed to ever lend their sounds a fully-engaged ear. After hearing @mlejanderson speak enthusiastically of The Black Keys upon multiple occasions, I made the decision to set time aside to actually pay attention to their music. I first studied (and quite enojyed) Attack & Release. I loved feel of the album and upon listening to the others, I found that that feeling carried over from one album to the next. When I landed on Brothers, though, I couldn't get off. I actually anticpated dedicating this post to the entire Brothers album, but, in order to stay consistent with the theme of SIMHS, I deemed Next Girl the dominating track.

Song: Next Girl

Artist: The Black Keys

Album: Brothers

Genre: blues rock

Video: click here

You'll like this song if you dig:

The White Stripes (RIP)

Junior Kimbrough

Stuck-in-my-head Sunday: Cornflake Girl

Tori Amos sprinkled 1990s radio with hits that were intensly quirky and incomparable to anything else of their time. Not only did Tori almost singlehandedly pave the way for female singer-songwriters in the early 90s, she came on with all orignial material, played multiple instruments, and self-produced the majority of her studio albums. Each of her releases contained tracks that would eventually add to her success, but it is 1994's Under the Pink that shares with us the splendor that is Cornflake Girl.

As I think back to childhood, I'm able to visualize clips of music videos in which Tori would display her sensual piano-playing technique and exhibit a faceful of passion. I can see the 90s version of my parents jamming Tori's music throughout the house and in the car. It wasn't until years later that I heard  Cornflake Girl grace the airwaves of Lithium, Sirius satellite radio's homestead for 90s alternative. Upon hearing the perfectly rhythmic acoustic intro, I immediately cranked it in my truck and quickly made sure to add it to playlists on my portable media devices for listening on the go. And, for some reason, I've not been able to stop listening to it this week.

Song: Cornflake Girl
Artist: Tori Amos
Album: Under the Pink (1994)
Genre: Baroque rock, piano rock
Video: click here

You'll like this song if you dig:
Alanis Morissette
Regina Spektor
Fiona Apple
Charlotte Martin

Stuck-in-my-head Sunday: 3rd Planet

Modest Mouse is an indie rock band that blossomed in 1993 at the crowning point of alternative music. The band cycled through members and released several EPs before finally reaching mainstream success in 2004 with the platinum-selling album Good News for People Who Love Bad News. It's one of the group's earlier tracks, however, that caught my ear this week. 3rd Planet is the first track on Modest Mouse's 2000 album, The Moon & Antarctica.

Modest Mouse has always been able to tickle the taste buds of my ears with it's clever use of instrumental and vocal sound in it's music and the presence of dense subject matter strewn throughout it's lyrics. It wasn't until very recently, though, that I was presented with the audible deliciousness that is 3rd Planet, thanks to the musical tastes of  pal and fellow awesomeness-lover, @stephtastic.

                           Source:  www.rhapsody.com/modest-mouse

Song: 3rd Planet

Artist: Modest Mouse

Album: The Moon & Antarctica (2000)

Genre: Alternative rock
Video: click here

You'll like this song if you dig:

Pixies

Beck

Radiohead

MGMT

Stuck-in-my-head Sunday: Ape Dos Mil

Glassjaw hails from Long Island, New York; a city that boasts a laundry list of artists and musicians who are known for throwing themselves into their work completely. This band is no exception. The post-hardcore, alternative rock sounds of Glassjaw may not be for everyone, but the group won me over this week with thier track Ape Dos Mil from 2002 album, Worship and Tribute.

Glassjaw was indirectly recommended to me by a friend who had assumed I already knew of the band. He'd said, "Glassjaw is coming to Houston in.. March I think. Wanna go?" He was surprised when I asked, "Who's that?" The conversation ended there, but the thought lingered on and I decided to run a quick YouTube search on Glassjaw. Ape Dos Mil was the first song I heard and I've since been hooked.

Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tommyauphoto/4473440167/

Song: Ape Dos Mil

Artist: Glassjaw

Album: Worship and Tribute (2002)

Genre: Post-hardcore, alternative
Video: click here

You'll like this song if you dig: 

Brand New

Deftones 

Incubus 

Taking Back Sunday