The capybara is the world’s largest rodent. So it’s appropriate when I started listening to Capybara’s new record, Try Brother, I said “RATS!” It is super hard to listen to this record and not think of the other bands with animals as their namesake (The Dodos and Fleet Foxes, anyone?).

Capybara are made up of multi-instrumentalists who all sing. Their mix of xylophones, banjos, acoustic/eclectic guitars, simple synths, piano and various percussive instruments will probably light some hearts on fire.

Opener “San Francisco, 1906” gives away all of the band’s tricks through its shifting tempos and vocal blasts. Focus track “The Wimp” is the most immediate tune, with its catchy “oh, whoa” background vocals and pulsing hook;  it has all the makings of a live staple.

The band has garnered comparisons to Vampire Weekend, and tracks like the short—and actually pretty awesome—“Cutaway Kid” almost support it. But other than the track’s pulsing, almost “A Punk”-like rhythm there really isn’t much to the comparison.  “Cutaway Kid” is the fastest track on the record, and along with “The Wimp” the most repeatable.

Slashy song, “Happiness/Let Child Roam” is a tortuous track of falsettos and vocal sounds that meanders and goes almost nowhere, until the ending sing along, which would sit perfectly on any Fleet Foxes record. Speaking of Fleet Foxes, awesome track and highlight “Birthday Song for Bridgegirl” will garner the most comparisons. The track starts slow, but then explodes into something actually special.

All in all, the band are talented musicians, and with time on the road, they could come up with something brilliant.  But now, what is supposed to be a full length would’ve made a pretty EP.

Check out Capybara on the internets here,and  here.

Watch this video of the super-fun “Cutaway Kid”:

Cutaway Kid / feat. Freaky Deeky! from mark harrison on Vimeo.