Jeff Pianki

For the most part I'm not a big fan of guys my age who play acoustic guitar. It starts earnestly but quickly descends into the depths of cheap John Mayer (who is already mediocre) knockoffs like this God-awful travesty. A few diamonds in the penny mine are able to transcend the AE-wearin', Owl City-listenin', Adam Brody-lookin' cliché.

An exception to this acoustic hellhole: Jeff Pianki.

Sugarplum Bear posted this video on the wall of Dutchess Dragonmane and I was immediately on board with this guy. I triple dog dare you not to giggle when you watch it.

His music, like Sugarplum says, "makes my heart smile." Sure, sometimes it does start sliding into the realm of guitar-boy stereotype-land, but there's something, I don't know what, but something that keeps it genuine.

Is it that he's Michigan-born and Midwest is best?

Or that he's a freckled redhead?

Or that his blog shows how he's just a normal, nice dude?

I don't know. What I do know is he's talented and my auditory nerves enjoy what he does.

Jazzy Jeff's Last FM has a gaggle of his songs available for free download. And his Youtube account features a bunch of originals, covers, and collaborations including another with his precious sister that may just be cuter than Say Hello.

I'll let you find it.

Here's a hint:

Music That Sounds Like Summer

As August marches relentlessly on, the end of summer's freedom draws closer and closer. The Fly Hunniez will officially walk the hallowed halls of our university once again on September 2nd (the effervescent H. Boldt on crutches).

But some songs will carry a hint of sun and sand and warm breezes with them through the fall...

Here are some of my "songs of the summer"...

Freeway - Kurt Vile

Beach Comber - Real Estate

French Navy - Camera Obscura

Contender - The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart

Glad - Glasser

Warm Heart of Africa (feat. Ezra Koenig) - The Very Best

things will never be the same again -jj

Deadbeat Summer - Neon Indian

Seasun - Delorean

What are yours?

Robert Pattinson's Jawline

The thing could slice through sheets of steel. I'm sure of it.

Here it is looking sullen.

Here it is hanging out with Todd Olson.

And..what? You can't actually see it in this photograph? Oh. Sorry...

Burt's Bees

While on my plane ride back from the depths of time, I forgot to put my lip balm in my carry-on bag. That journey = longest plane ride of my entire life.
Anyone who uses lip balm religiously knows that your lips get the driest when you know you don't have any accessible stick of chap. Your lack of soothing wax taunts you, torments you until you become desperate enough to ask a companion for a swipe of their choice brand.
(I never, ever do this. I would rather feel like my lips have been scorched by desert's sandy winds and the sun's persistent rays than use another person's chapstick.)
I've experienced the Bonnebell plethora of flavors, the Chapstick chapstick, and generic balms, but none have compared to the minty simplicity that is Burt's Bees Beeswax Lip Balm.
All natural, no animal testing, and, according to my tube, 30% post-industrial content.
Good for my lips, good for the Earth.