YOUNG GOVERNOR (aka Ben Cook) is fast becoming one of Canada’s most prolific recordings acts. An actor as well as a member of other bands like Fucked Up, No Warning (RIP), The Bitters, Marvelous Darlings and Roommates, its hard to imagine having time to put out as many releases as Young Governor has been able to over the past couple of years. A slew of 7”/ 12”/ tapes on respected labels like Mexican Summer, Dirtnap, Sacred Bones, Scotch Tapes and Criminal IQ has made Young Governor one of the most talked about acts in recent years. Single after single, tape after tape Ben continues to put out quality to match his quantity putting new meaning to the DIY "bedroom recording artist". Instead of dismal lo fi he's unafraid to create perfect pop classics which instantly earned him critical acclaim on his debut 7" "Virginia Creeper".
Catchy pop structures mixed with fuzzed-out 80’s pop-punk hooks make Young Guv one of Ben’s most accessible projects. Imagine what would happen if Burt Bacharach, Stiff Little Fingers, Tom Petty and Dinosaur Jr. were all childhood friends with access to guitars, reverb pedals and pot. That’s Guv.
Ben is also involved in the producing and recording of other Toronto acts with his wildly popular “Scotch Tapes/ Young Guv Limited Lathe Series” which features incredibly limited hand-cut records from Tropics, Huckleberry Friends, The Bitters, Actual Water, Bruised Knee and Young Guv, himself.
Young Governor has also had a hand in ghost writing a slew of "hits" for the more corporate side of Canadian music, and continues to do so.
The next 12 months will be busy ones for Young Governor with numerous new releases scheduled.
Discography:
Young Governor - Virginia Creeper 7" (Plastic Idol)
Young Governor - English Tim 7" (Static Shock)
Young Governor - 'Hidden Love' 12" E.P (Parts Unknown)
Young Governor - Guv Luv Mixtape Volume 1 (Southpaw)
Young Governor - Summer Girl 7" with book (Sleep City)
Young Governor - Bedtime Stories 7" (Southpaw)
Young Governor - Call me when the cat dies 7" (Criminal IQ)
Young Governor – Cindy’s Gonna Save Me 7" (Dirtnap)
Young Governor - Beat Of My Heart 7" (Wallride)
Young Governor - Pizza Face 7" (Scotch Tapes)
Young Governor - Pizza Face lathe series 7" (Scotch Tapes)
Young Governor - The Married Man 7" (We Are Busy Bodies)
Young Governor & the Under 5's (TBA)
Young Governor "Under Pressure" frizbee cut 7" (Scotch Tapes)
No Warning s/t (Martyr)
No Warning 'Ill Blood' - (Bridge9)
No Warning 'Suffer Survive' (Warner)
Violent Minds s/t - (My War)
Violent Minds 'Riot' - (Parts Unknown)
Criminally Insane demo 7" (Parts Unknown)
Fucked Up - Dance of Death single (VOX) (Deranged)
Fucked Up - Hidden World LP (VOX) (Jade Tree)
Fucked Up – David’s Xmas - (FU Records)
Fucked Up - Chemistry of Common Life (Matador)
Fucked Up - David Comes To Life LP (Matador)
Marvelous Darlings - demo cassette / 7" (Rat patrol, FUCK YOU!)-
Marvelous Darlings – Don’t Wanna Party single 7" (Deranged)
Marvelous Darlings - The Swords, The Streets single 7"- (Wallride)
Marvelous Darlings - Sleeping Like A Dead Man 7" (Bachelor)
Marvelous Darlings - The Only Ones For Miles 7" (P-Trash)
Marvelous Darlings - Shoot The Piano Player 7" (Taken By Surprise)
Marvelous Darlings - Teenage Targets 7" (Plastic Idol)
marvelous darlings - I'll Stand By Her/Friend of a Friend double A
SIDE 7" (Plastic Idol)
Marvelous Darlings - I Hate Rock n Roll 7" (Speedowax)
Marvelous Darlings - Live at Gale’s Snack Bar 12" (Deranged)
The Bitters - Wooden Glove 12" (Captured Tracks)
The Bitters - East 7" (Captured Tracks)
The Bitters - "East General" 12" LP (Mexican Summer)
The Bitters - Have-A-Nap Hotel 12" EP (Sacred Bones)
The Bitters - Unfinished Bridges 7" (TBA)
Roommates - "Wi" cassette (Scotch Tapes)
Roommates - "Nn" cassette (Scotch Tapes)
LATHE SERIES by Guv/Scotch Tapes
Huckleberry Friends - "Testing" 7"
Tropics - "Wild Life" 7"
Bruised Knees - "Holy Sees Horror" 7"
Lonely Wholesome - "Vanity"