Formed in Kelowna and later on based in Vancouver Yukon Blonde has been one of the more popular bands of the Indie scene. The band formed in 2009 and consists of 5 members, Jeff Innes, Brandon Scott, Graham Jones, James Younger, and Rebecca Gray. This band has done it all, they have toured all of Canada and have won big awards such as a 2013 Juno award for Breakthrough Group of the year. Before their breakthrough album the band had put out 3 albums prior they were already well known up to this point but that was gonna flip on its head after the release of “Critical Hit”.
This 13 track album felt like the peak for the band. The band’s ability to combine indie pop with 80s style production is what really sets this band apart from others. The opening song “Too close to love”, is a perfect example of a song just filled with rhythm and funky 80s style production. Yukon Blonde on this specific album I do not know why it really reminds me of Tame Impala. The synths and layering of voices on certain tracks really just reminds me of them.
What makes this project stand out from other indie bands is its ability to be different. Yukon Blonde doesn’t go for the occasional indie band sound, they really focus on this 80s style vibe on this project. This album was a lot before but this leaning on retro style reminds me of Tory Lanez’s album “Alone at prom”, another album that uses that 80s vibe and it clearly seems that this works with listeners.
As indie scene veterans who aren’t scared to get their hands dirty, experiment, and let the music do the talking, Yukon Blonde sounds like a band that is completely embracing who they have become. It lands exactly where it is intended to, so the name Critical Hit is appropriate; it’s exactly what it is and it’s why this is their most popular album. The album perfectly shows Yukon Blonde’s combination of innovation and nostalgia, demonstrating that even after over ten years of collaboration, they continue to come up with fresh ideas to keep fans listening. Yukon Blonde have just dropped a new project and I wonder how it will hold up to this classic almost 8 years later.