Album Review: Young Guv – Guv I

Close your eyes and try to imagine what an album from a guy named Young Guv would sound like. Chances are, you'll probably picture some UK grime rapper spittin' bars about West Gloucestershire, Tesco meal deals and how crap your nan is. This is not what Young Guv sounds like. Young Guv, aka Ben Cook of Canadian hardcore punk bands Fucked Up and No Warning, sounds like a YouTube comment written by some boomer that reads: "Ha! Almost thought I grew up with this one in the '70s!"

Because like a million other acts out there right now, Guv I has that Big Star meets '70s John Lennon meets Guided By Voices and Teenage Fanclub mutant baby offspring sound. Only this time, someone gave that mutant baby a lo-fi voice filter and now it's his favourite toy. May God have mercy on our souls.

Thing is, Guv I isn't horrible, and if this album had come out about 15 years ago, maybe this review would be a little less stroppy. The songs are fine, there's some good moments, but this power-pop revival stuff is just getting old, man.

When it comes to critiquing new music, it feels like a cop out to just say listen to the classics instead. But when the material is this derivative, it's time you gave Alien Lanes and #1 Record a call to tell 'em you love 'em.