Giraffes are not the most attractive of creatures, nor are they the best smelling. They just sort of hang out and eat branches and are for the most part fairly lazy animals. That said, giraffes also exude a subtle charm and sense of wonderment that endears them to zoo visitors and wildlife enthusiasts the world over. They also happen to adorn the cover of Summer Hymns’ Voice Brother and Sister.

Why when I really stop to think about it, Summer Hymns' music and giraffes have an awful lot in common. Both are rather large and cumbersome: giraffes with their long necks and awkward stride and Summer Hymns with their numerous members and full instrumental arsenal. Both are rather lazy creatures: giraffes putter about all day eating leaves and gallivanting uselessly, and Summer Hymns make hazy countrified pop bursting at the seams with heartfelt melodies and distinctly ragged playing. Also, they both exude a subtle charm: giraffes with their spotted coats and long, sad faces and Summer Hymns with breezily damaged rural tales like "Stick Your Tail in the Wind" and "Eating Bark" -- which, when you think about it, could really be describing giraffes. Yes, when you examine the two closely you find quite a few similarities, though I would have to recommend purchasing a copy of Voice Brother and Sister over buying a giraffe. For one, you won’t have to clean up after a gloriously woozy track like "Miriam Moon is Best Friends with the Stars at Night" as you would a pet giraffe. Nor is there any need to feed an epic slice of Byrds-inspired damaged psych-pop like "Half Sick of Shadows" the way you would a giraffe.

Though remarkably similar, in the end Summer Hymns’ Voice Brother and Sister will most likely win out over the giraffe -- if not for sheer portability, than for its ability to be brought through customs without causing a ruckus.