Vancouver indie darlings Yukon Blonde will release their highly anticipated self-titled debut in February, and it’s sure to be one of the year’s best. An infectious and ambitious first album, Yukon Blonde takes the genre to the next level with airy mystique and grand choruses. Guitar hooks in tracks like Kumiko Song and Ghosts on Film don’t stray far from the indie rock norm, but are guaranteed to be in stuck your head for days. Yukon Blonde’s catchy and inventive melodies compensate when their lyrics are lacklustre, with tasteful hints to Supertramp strewn throughout the album. The haunting choir in Wind Blows is sure to be a listener favorite. Jeff Innes’ guitar tones are often repetitive, but his use of instrumentation fits well with his clear, passionate voice. Yukon Blonde should be compulsory listening for Canadian indie lovers.