More Disciplined, Less Desirable

It's been a while since I've spoken about Heather Fortune, the San Francisco punk diva who has made an impressive mark in what is arguably the garage rock capital of the world right now. There was a time last year where Fortune seemed to be everywhere, what with Blasted Canyons' insane excellence and Wax Idols, her "solo project" which fleshed out into a band and saw the release of the strong hook-laden punk almanac No Future.

It's with Wax Idols that she is making waves with first in 2013, as their sophomore LP Discipline & Desire hits the shelves at the end of the month (through Slumberland Records). It's sure to surprise some, with the usual scuzzy riot rock shaved away to provide something starker and with lashings of New Wave and post-punk - almost the antithesis of No Future, to be honest. It's evident from the album title and cover art - Fortune is still at the forefront, the alpha-Idol, yet there is a sheen and flamboyance evident throughout. Plus the move from the scuzzy home of Hozac Records to the dreamy revivalism that many of Slumberland's roster inhabit lays some implicit knowledge down. 'Cartoonist' is like an OTT Gothic Blondie, for crying out loud! Such a contradiction to Fortune's prior output could be a struggle for fans to overcome, but is also likely to win Wax Idols many more fans in the process.

For me personally, the jury is still out on Discipline & Desire. Whilst some of the tracks are invigorating ('AD RE:IAN', 'Cartoonist') there are as many mid-tempo numbers that lacks the attitude and spike and ultimately slows everything down. It could be a grower though - what do you think? You can pre-order it here.
   

Blasted Canyons Live Up To The Name

I posted about Wax Idols the other week, as their guitarist/frontwoman Heather Fedewa/Fortune is one punk rock goddess who slays all and sundry with her barbed hooks. Fedewa created something nasty and delectably palatable there; but I feel that her work on No Future may be underdone, if the self-titled LP from Blasted Canyons is anything to go by.


Hole E SHIT.

This album is pretty fucking incredible. Having taken pride of place on the eclectic and ramshackle Castle Face stable, Blasted Canyons serves as a manifesto that is full of vitriol, is scribed in blood and is wired to tonnes of Semtex. They have been heftily aided in their quest to destroy the world by producer Matt Hartman - yep, he of Sic Alps, whose Napa Asylum was yet another ace record of 2011. Throw Ty Segall into this crowd and you have San Francisco, the cornerstone to the best music made this year. Uh huh - Blasted Canyons is that good. For your sake, get this now.

Blasted Canyons - Blood On The Wall
Blasted Canyons - Death & A Half

Idolising a Waxen Future

Awesomeness abounds when throwing on this 7" (through the inimitable HoZaC) by SF punks Wax Idols. These formidable female-fronted pop wonders are not who you may already believe or expect. Led by the ex-Hunx & His Punx (meh), Bare Wires (rad) and member of CastleFace Records' Blasted Canyons (awesome) Heather Fedewa (aka Hether Fortune), Wax Idols "straddle the line between ripping tough/tender post-punk/goth-pop, and irresistibly anthemic indie rock hooks, somewhat like Joan Jett would sound like tearing through Best Coast with a chainsaw." Note the quotations? Not my comment. But Hozac press dude, I agree entirely. There is something wholly enthralling by seeing women take back punk from the faux-rockers, yet infuse it with a narcotically addictive sense of melody. These girls have it in spades. No Future is the LP - but it's a misnomer when you consider what these girls might be capable of.



No Future is available here - its well worth the purchase, let me tell you! Also, check out Fortune's band-led tumblr site here, its pretty ace.




Wax Idols - Dead Like You
Wax Idols - Gold Sneakers