In a few short years, Ben Cook has carved out a sweet little niche for himself under the moniker "YOUNG GOVERNOR."  The Guv's stamp is pretty much everywhere you look these days:  he writes, he records, he slings wax as a budding record label mogul, and he still finds time to rock the guitar in FUCKED UP.  Last year, he even landed a part in some teen idol flick, playing drums opposite Nick Jonas, and lived to write a song about it.  Word is, the Guv is taking it to the stage in 2011 with a full band.  No ETA yet, but we'll all be paying attention for sure.  "Firing Squad" was on its way to a super-indie when we rescued it, while "25 With a Bullet" appears here in its third--and best, we think--form.  Limited to 600 copies, black vinyl.

Three blasts from the past by this Pacific Northwest powerhouse, anchored by members of the FLIP-TOPS, NIX, and DEFECT DEFECT, among others.  These guys and gal left behind an LP and a couple EPs worth of excellent garage-punk tuneage, but it was in the live arena where they truly excelled.  Their travels took them to Europe and up and down the West Coast a couple times before things fizzled.  Like their "We Got The Pop" EP (PIR-005), these songs were documented in the band's basement practice space, resulting in a scrappier recording than their LP.  Take the first few bars of "Knifed!," for example—perhaps the toughest the Minds ever sounded on record, even if some of the power is lost in lo-fi translation.  "Twist It Off" is the more bile-infused of the B-side bunch, while "Never Wanted It," an unclaimed tune from a rumored split with the ENDS, brings down the curtain in a blaze of synth.  And that's all she wrote.  Limited to 300 copies on black vinyl, sleeve by Jonas Norway.

Portland's the FLIP-TOPS are back!  Infused with new blood and a profusion of new tunes, the Flip-Tops have streamlined the sound first heard on their "All Worked Up" LP, released on Rip Off Records in 2002.  Now, the inimitable vocals of Joel Jett (the MINDS, JETPACK) and guitar roar of longtime co-conspirator Rob Felkel (the MINDS, NIX) is augmented with sparkling guitar leads, a beefier rhythm section, and a more explosive sound in general.  The result here--two originals and a SIMPLETONES cover--is powerfully played pop, recorded and mixed exactly like it should be.  Limited to 500 copies on opaque blue vinyl, with another superb sleeve design from Jonas Norway.

DUCHESS OF SAIGON "Hootenanny" 7" EP (PIR-001)

MP3:  "Giddy Up"