This 12” from Vancouver retro rockers Yukon Blonde is somewhat of a bridge to the next record, but it acts as its own little animal. Side A’s Fire is a dreamy delight, in the old school Yukon Blonde tradition, or for the less inclined, a bit of Evil Urges-era My Morning Jacket. School Kids is a punky popper (in the good way) that kicks you into high gear, while the flip side is a bit more mellow. The layered Water is lush with gang vocals and simple yet full instrumentation, accented by beefy (again, in a good way) guitars. Closer Choices is a sad little chant, only leaving the listener craving more Blonde.

Published in Volume 66, Number 8 of The Uniter (October 19, 2011)