Matthew Sweet and Susanna Hoffs have teamed up again for another collection of cover songs on 'Under the Covers, Vol. 2,' and are currently on the road together for a small acoustic tour in support of their latest record. Sweet will be checking in with personal photos and anecdotes for his fans as the intimate club run continues this month. In his first entry, the singer-songwriter explains his love for his shoes and why everyone should get in touch with their inner apeman.

Make like an apeman! They're called Five Fingers, even though Five Toes would describe them more accurately. I wear them religiously. They are shoes. Susanna Hoffs and I have been on the road playing informal acoustic shows in support of our covers records, 'Under The Covers volume 1 & 2.' One of the most asked questions for me at the venues is, "Tell us about those shoes!" "Those shoes" are the Five Fingers by Vibram, and they are a dream come true -- a shoe for people who would rather be barefoot, like me!

Ok, they were developed for use as running shoes for barefoot running, a trend I was not aware of until I read an article about the Five Fingers in the New York Times last summer. I've found that these shoes really fit my needs in terms of footwear, and despite my flat feet, they work great for me in daily use. Oh how those toes breathe through the membrane around them, keeping those foot fingers cool and dry. I could go on and on about these shoes, and often do -- I am asked everywhere I go what they are. People tend to either be joyfully interested, or they walk by and make fun of them, secretly snickering to each other rather obviously. A TSA agent at airport screening told me that when they go through the x-ray machine, it's totally freaky as they look like a pair of human feet. Indeed, Vibram wouldn't have to change things much to make them for, say, our recently discovered anscestor "Ardi."

So why do we hide our toes in those big shoe boxes? Don't y'all have toes too? My toes are very strong now. Maybe you should consider following my lead, and make like the apeman you really are. You might just find the shoe fits!

- Matthew Sweet