PROJECT JENNY, PROJECT JAN - The Colors EP

Project Jenny, Project Jan will release The Colors EP on April 14th. The disc features an array of special guests, not least of which is TSR fave Fujiya & Miyagi, who turn up on the new single (video below), "Pins and Needles".

I first discovered Project Jenny, Project Jan when a friend included them on a mix cd that I later played on repeat while driving around the Big Island in Hawaii. I will never forget the terrifying experience of driving down into a canyon, doing 4WD in a red jeep while listening to these guys.

PJPJ play SXSW next week. I'm hoping to catch up with them there. More about the Brooklyn duo...

"Project Jenny, Project Jan spans a forthcoming surprising musical range, from the sinister beats of “320” to the feel good “Summertime”; from the singalong swing of “Brooklyn” to the expansive Bollywood feel of “The Dialogue.” One thing remains constant, however: Their kinetic energy, which inspired Billboard to call Project Jenny, Project Jan’s live show a “shockingly dynamic, danceable, and hilarious affair.”" -altsounds.com



...and the song that got me into them in the first place, "320"...

FUJIYA & MIYAGI - "Sore Thumb"

Fujiya & Miyagi may not have been my favorite live band of the year, but their latest record Lightbulbs is undoubtedly infectious. The new single also comes with a new video. Enjoy "Sore Thumb".

CMJ 08 Wrap-Up

So for me, CMJ kinda blew. Sure Crystal Castles were awesome. I'm a new fan of WhoMadeWho, Bad Veins and Heloise & the Savoir Faire. And Crystal Antlers rocked it all over the city. But my CMJ experience at first got off to a rough start. Then I hit the overwhelming fest for two nights. Friday I felt exhausted. Saturday I planned on going to the After the Jump day party, which was supposed to be at The Yard, then got switched to Market Hotel due to rain, then got cancelled entirely. Not to mention my failed attempt at catching Ebony Bones, who I am enthralled with right now. I call this all alot of bad luck. Whatever, it happens.

I had fun at the shows I got to see, so for what it's worth, here are my highlights from CMJ 08.

CRYSTAL CASTLES (removed by request):(

FUJIYA & MIYAGI


WHOMADEWHO


HELOISE & THE SAVOIR FAIRE


CRYSTAL ANTLERS (re-post)

CMJ 08 Thursday CRYSTAL CASTLES FUJIYA & MIYAGI WHOMADEWHO

Crystal Castles delivered a spellbinding set last night, headlining a CMJ showcase at Webster Hall. And though lead singer Alice Glass doesn't have a great voice, her spastic energy and demonic-like presence are what rock stars are made of. Swigging from a bottle of red wine and screaming into her echoed mic, Glass stomped around the stage like a caged animal. At times, she even kneeled on the hands of the crazed fans up front, creating the illusion of floating above the crowd like an evil princess.


But the real star of this show was the amazing lighting design, perfectly in tune with the Nintendo-On-Acid chaos of the music. This show was highly entertaining and Crystal Castles had the packed house in the palm of their sinister hands. This was every bit the spectacle I had hoped for.


Fujiya & Miyagi sounded really good, though the set seemed to grow redundant after awhile. I love their albums and they definitely have talent, but live it came across a bit boring and not entirely engaging. I don't mean to say they were bad, but I was expecting a livelier show from these guys.

WhoMadeWho were superb. The trio (two of which were decked out in hysterical black and white skin-tight bodysuits) played a fantastic set full of great tracks, anchored by the band's infectious charisma. They really got the crowd moving. I am so glad I made it in time to catch these guys. I am definitely a new fan.



-All photos by Scot Bowman

CRYSTAL CASTLES Playing CMJNew 'Crimewaves' Video

Crystal Castles will headline a CMJ showcase at Webster Hall on October 23rd, with Fujiya & Miyagi, WhoMadeWho, and Lymbyc Systm in support. This will be a major highlight of the annual marathon, which descends on the city for five days October 21-25. You can still buy tickets here.

The controversial 8-bit duo play up their post-goth image with the new video for "Crimewaves", the robot-chic cover of HEALTH's modern apocalyptic classic.

Crystal Castles - Crimewave (Crystal Castles VS. Health) | Music Videos | SPIKE.com

FUJIYA & MIYAGI - Lightbulbs

Fujiya & Miyagi will release their third proper LP Lightbulbs on September 16th. The follow-up to 2006's critical success Transparent Things, the new disc features the single "Knickerbocker".

"They are steeped in vintage music from evocative krautrock to deep soul, with wafts of early Human League synth, Floydian Englishness and the throbbing groove of Tom Tom Club, all filtered for modern times."


Fujiya and Miyagi - Knickerbocker


The foursome will also hit the road for a brief US tour in October...

US Fall Tour

Oct 22 2008 MERCURY LOUNGE NEW YORK
Oct 23 2008 WEBSTER HALL NEW YORK
Oct 24 2008 PARADISE BOSTON
Oct 25 2008 BOTTOM LOUNGE CHICAGO
Oct 27 2008 CHOP SUEY SEATTLE
Oct 28 2008 THE INDEPENDENT SAN FRANCISCO
Oct 30 2008 THE TROUBADOUR LOS ANGELES

NEW VIDEO FRIDAY

!!! - 'Must Be the Moon'


YACHT - 'See A Penny (Pick It Up)'


AIR - 'Mer do Japon'
Air Mer du Japon Video

Add to My Profile | More Videos

FUJIYA & MIYAGI - 'Ankle Injuries'

NEW VIDEO FRIDAY - Fujiya & Miyagi, Simian Mobile Disco, TV on the Radio, Arctic Monkeys

FUJIYA & MIYAGI - "Collarbone"


SIMIAN MOBILE DISCO - "It's the Beat"


TV ON THE RADIO - "Province"


ARCTIC MONKEYS - "Brianstorm"

FUJIYA & MIYAGI - Transparent Things

Finally!

FUJIYA & MIYAGI's fantastic album 'Transparent Things' will be released in the U.S. on Tuesday, January 23 on Deaf Dumb & Blind. If you are a fan of artists like THIEVERY CORPORATION, HOT CHIP, RATATAT or AIR, this album will have you hooked at the start.

Not exactly a duo like their name suggests, FUJIYA & MIYAGI are actually three guys. And though they would like you to think they are from Japan, they actually come out of Brighton. Those crazy electro geeks...

Fujiya & Miyagi official site

U.S. Tour Dates

03-10 Seattle, WA - Chop Suey
03-11 Portland, OR - Doug Fir Lounge
03-13 San Francisco, CA - Mint
03-14 Los Angeles, CA - Spaceland
03-18 New York, NY - Mercury Lounge