MKNZ Ilirska Bistrica, Thursday, 25.10.2001:

J. Majesty (USA)

For Brooklyn-based J. Majesty, it has always been about musical exploration. Take one part kudzu country sass and twang, one part post-hardcore power, and one part sensitive wounded heart, and you're only halfway to describing J. Majesty's sound.

Originally from Salt Lake City, Utah, J. Majesty now resides in Brooklyn, NY. They came to the Big Apple one at a time, driven variously by the search for quality dub music, the frantic calls of bands seeking quality musicians, and simply the need to brush the hometown dust off their shoulders and experience the bright lights. After stints playing with various bands and musicians, our heroes holed themselves up in a freezing cold storefront and a band originally called Sleeping Pilot (and at one point featuring Theo of The Lunachicks and Jeremy Chatelain of Jets to Brazil) gelled and transmogrified into J. Majesty.

Comprising the band is vocalist/guitarist Spanky Van Dyke, whose scratchy smooth voice has been compared to everyone from Perry Farrell to Neil Young, bassist Jim Kimball (aka "Home G"), wizardly talented guitarist Jeff Johnson, and drummer Dale W. Miller. Spanky, Jeff, and Home G have been friends since playing in the Salt Lake City music scene in the early '90s. In 2000, Home G met Dale at Other Music in NYC's East Village and when J. Majesty needed a new drummer, he gave Dale a call and it was on.

Powerful and striking, J. Majesty manage to be as raw and unbridled as Minor Threat, as ardent and elegant as Sunny Day Real Estate, as brainy and arch as Jane's Addiction and as dramatic and operatic as Shudder to Think. Season liberally with the flavors of British post-punk angular melody, a dash of noise-guitar psychodrama, and a smattering of emotional dynamics, and you're not too far off.

Since moving to New York three years ago, J. Majesty has released one full-length on Some Records and toured with bands like Rival Schools, Jets to Brazil, Sergio Vega and others. They are now hitting their stride both musically and as residents of the East Coast. The band can express exactly what it wants, with each note serving a purpose. Guitarist Jeff Johnson (aka "jjonthesun") credits New York City for this. "Much of our music has an open air feel to it, like the Utah country. But the new songs are precise and to the point. That's what New York City is about, no bullshit."

J. Majesty will be playing more US dates from now until October, when they will be heading to Europe for a six-week tour. Upon their return to the states, the band will record their second full-length album, which should come out in the spring of 2002.