Young Guv, aka songwriter Ben Cook, is gearing up for the release of his new double album, GUV III & IV, and the first installment, GUV III, is due out March 11th from Run For Cover Records (and Hand Drawn Dracula in Canada). Today he’s sharing the appropriately titled guitar pop gem, “Good Time.”
Cook discussed the new track saying, “When James Matthew VII said he wanted to come down and join us in the high desert, I contacted our landlord in The Earthship and she towed small trailer up and put it in our land and he lived in it. James got into a deep groove with how we were living immediately. He would knock on my door every morning and wake me up and play me ideas. He’s big on working every single day, and he really helped take the relaxed creative schedule we’d all been on and turnEd it into more of a productive daily routine. ‘Good Time’ was the first songs we created when he pulled up. It’s obviously a bit of a Tom Petty/Jeff Lynne cosplay/worship track, and I’m totally ok with that”.
From start to finish, GUV III is full of undeniable hooks and crunchy guitars, offering the perfect entry point for both new listeners and those already initiated into the wide world of Guv. As evidenced by “Good Time” and previous singles “Only Wanna See U Tonight,” “Lo Lo Lonely,” and “It’s Only Dancin'” (which have garnered attention from the likes of Stereogum, BrooklynVegan, Uproxx, Raven Sings The Blues, and more), Cook has a distinct ability to channel years of crate-digging into Young Guv’s songs, resulting in a record that brings a fresh perspective to timeless sounds.
Young Guv has been a long-running project that’s allowed Cook (vocalist of No Warning and former guitarist of Fucked Up) to explore countless different sounds and styles–from scrappy first wave punk to ’80s influenced R&B and beyond. The one constant has always been Cook’s infallible knack for melody, which shines even brighter on GUV III. Written in the high desert of Taos, New Mexico under unusual circumstances, the album finds Cook tapping into physical and mental isolation to explore the unshakeable pull of human connection and the rejuvenating power of finding love in others and one’s self. It’s an expertly crafted celebration of big choruses and big guitars that packs an emotional punch amongst all the chiming 12-strings and layered harmonies.
Young Guv has also announced a run of intimate shows in California to celebrate the release of GUV III. Dates include shows in Los Angeles, Oakland, and Long Beach, with support from Scowl, Toner, Color Green, and more. See full itinerary below.
And stay tuned for more details on GUV IV, also due out this year!