Since their 2002 debut, Electric Karaoke, Fujiya & Miyagi have been known by many as something that is different. The phrase ‘you"ve never heard anything like this before" is so true when applied to their music. That is probably why, within the last few years, the band has become more and more popular—that and the positive reviews they are getting.

Currently a three-piece comprised of Steve Lewis (Fujiya, synths), David Best (Miyagi, vocals) and Matt Hainsby (Ampersand, bass guitar), Fujiya & Miyagi has struggled to break into the music world. With the release of Transparent Things, they are sure to move forward toward that goal.

Transparent Things blends the best of alt. rock synth with a perfect dance music punch. This album caters to the greatest of bad dancers and the most hardcore of indie rock enthusiasts. Think Gorrilaz meets the synth sounds of Zero 7 with a dash of Of Montreal whimsy.

Songs like "Ankle Injuries" and "Photocopier" are two of the more dance-oriented songs. Like most songs on the album, both are fast-paced, fun and riveting, but these are the only two songs that one can really dance to.

Even though the instrumental work isn’t anything special, the lyrics of the song "Collarbone" are what make the song fun. The band borrows lines from the childhood song "Them Bones" with lines like "ankle bone connected to the shin bone/ shin bone connected to the knee bone/ knee bone connected to the thigh bone".

On the other hand, "Reeboks in Heaven" and "Transparent Things" are two slower songs where Fujiya & Miyagi take the time to reflect a bit more through the lyrics.

The song "Transparent Things" just might be a bit too introspective to understand. Vocalist David Best, points out odd observations of the world in his lyrics like "Cyclists should ride in designated areas" and "two by two/ European language schools/ they’ve got the same kind of drugs/ sex on their backs yeah" before focusing with "I look through transparent things and I feel okay".

The last song, "Reeboks in Heaven" is just as odd as "Transparent Things" but with an addictive synth melody that you might swear you’ve heard somewhere before.

Although hard to understand at times, this album is a new extreme that is likely to satisfy your hunger for new music and get you to dance a little bit too.

Check out Fujiya & Miyagi’s MySpace .

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No. 2 :

Hello! Good Site! Thanks you! hipifhbfoju

Submitted by ukuvmckunl • 2007-07-06 08:13:39

No. 1 :

Is the lyric not "the same coloured rucksacks on their backs yeah"? It makes more sense than "kind of drugs/sex".

Submitted by Paul G • 2007-04-12 12:22:05

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