British Bands VS. American Bands

British Bands VS. American Bands

Anyone who is into music, has a handful or a couple of bands that profoundly move them, more then any other band they listen too. Not every band you like is going to move you deeply. I’m American, and when it comes down to it, British Bands are the ones that truly affect me. I find it interesting that a band, who’s members I had never met, who live thousands of miles away in a different country can create music that touches me in a profound way; even more then a band that lives in my country. When I look at the list of bands that effect me the most, almost all of them are from England. Here is the list………

1. Joy Division/New Order (British)
2. The Cure (British)
3. The Pixies (American)
4. The Stone Roses (British)

Granted there are a few other bands that I’m really into, but they don’t move me like these bands. As you can see, the majority of them are British; so my vote goes to British Bands, when comparing them to American Bands. What is it that makes British bands just plain better then the American bands; the discussion is now open!

Are we allowing the rest of Europe into this? We all love a bit of europop surely...

And shouldn't this thread be on the sane side, where Darkman is not allowed?

Burt Burterson wrote: Are we allowing the rest of Europe into this? We all love a bit of europop surely...

And shouldn't this thread be on the sane side, where Darkman is not allowed?

O.K add Europe……………....

My fave bands are NO/JD obviously OMD Depeche Mode

so for me British bands win hands down

UK Acts :-

Joy Division Durutti Column Beatles Pink Floyd The Kinks The Smiths Throbbing Gristle Talk Talk Roxy Music / Eno Bowie

US Acts :-

Velvet Underground / Lou Reed Stooges / Iggy Pop Pere Ubu Talking Heads Beach Boys Love The Doors Mothers of Invention Captain Beefheart

....you know it's a pretty close call between the US v. UK

...and let's not forget Germany:-

Kraftwerk Neu Cluster La Dusseldorf Agitation Free Harmonia Amon Duul Ashra Tempel Popol Vuh Tangerine Dream Can

...I really cannot decide I'm afraid - but these are the big three countries in the world anyway.

I think Britain is great with bands (of course, starting with The Beatles!), while America is great with single artists (Elvis, Dylan, Jackson, Cash, etc.).

Generally UK leads the world in rock music - US follows.

Having said that I love VU (so did JD) and Talking Heads (who I believe were influenced by JD during their career).

As David Byrne was Scottish maybe they should be a UK band.

Ive no problem with US bands its just most of the acts I like happen to be from the UK. Rather than list all of them I'll list what few US bands I like. Metallica Faith No More

Er. Thats it I think, other than a few tracks here and there.

I thought it'd be more myself.

US:

Nine Inch Nails (up until 2005) Oingo Boingo Helmet

UK:

Joy Division New Order Bauhaus

Germany:

Project Pitchfork Deine Lakaien

I have always been obsessed with BRITISH music even though I live in USA, there is something about music from the UK that sounds good, maybe it is the environment that is made in or the accent but I am in love with BRITISH music, If someone tells me to check out a band that is from USA I might not care at all but if a band if from England I will definitely try it out,

My favorite British Bands

• New Order
• Joy Division
• Depeche Mode
• The Cure
• The Smiths
• and MANY many more bands.

USA Bands

• The strokes
• Red Hot chili peppers

Fav Manchester Bands: New Order Joy Division The Smiths Electronic James Stone Roses Durutti Column

Fav US Artistes Scott Walker(1-4) The Doors R.E.M. Pixies Beach Boys

I forget who said it, but 'American bands want to be the most popular, British bands want to be the best'. Nails it.

American Artists:

Faith No More Beach Boys The Geto Boys The Pixies

hmm... if I could include solo artists: Non/Boyd Rice The Detroit techno people Marvin Gaye Curtis Mayfield

I don't know why, but there's just something about the vast majority of American bands that put me off. They stick to formula too much, or else a bland, inoffensive earthiness (cause that's more 'authentic')

British Artists: Too many to even bother listing

British win hands down

"Giving synthesizers to the English was like giving alcohol to the (American) Indians." - Mike Watt

I've always prefered bands from the UK because they were less afraid of experimentation. American tastes are largely rock and require electic guitars and a lot of posturing. England seemed like a magic place to me growing up and the bands embraced electronics. Hell, I named myself 50 Pound Note after my love of all things English.

My favourite American bands of the past and present are Mr Mister, Red Flag and most recently, Intervox.

However, most US artists I've ever listened to are just two-chord cheaters.

Britain hosts most great classic rock music, just avoid the British radio stations (apart from the independent web stations, like Dandelion Radio).

It should also be pointed out that Talk Talk are an Irish band, and a very good Irish band too.

U.S

REM Velvet Underground Doors Stooges Killers Interpol

U.K

JD/NO Bunnymen Smiths OMD Depeche Mode Cure Section 25 Stone Roses Primal Scream Jesus and Mary Chain Happy Mondays David Bowie Erasure Pet Shop Boys

World Wide

Abba Kraftwerk Legiao Urbana Capital Inicial Titãs

America invents it. England improves it. America then imitates it back in a really lame superficial way or... America plays a hip homage/knowing ironic style (Pavement, LCD Soundsystem, Guided By Voices)

USA has the best hip hop uncontested. Europe took acid house and ran with it. Not sure who is to blame for "trance" but they should be a little embarrassed.

The vast majority of the rock/pop bands I like are British. I listen to some rock/pop that are Japanese (mainly older stuff though), as well as some that are from other countries in Europe. (And a little bit from the US and Australia.) The majority of dance music that I like comes from all over Europe, although some are Japanese. However, I also listen to jazz, and the vast majority of jazz/easy listening stuff I listen to are American.

So for me it depends on the type of music.

it's what is great about new order; they don't have that silly british accent when they sing. you know, like mark e smith or oasis.

I don't care if anyone has any accent or not when they sing, personally, no matter the language or country the person is from.

This is a tough one, but I will always give thanks to America for giving the world Jackson Browne,Ramones,Frank Zappa, and more recently The Drums. I dont usualy like to define a band just on the basis of which part of the world they're from. However, I find it amazing that Manchester has managed to churn such great music from such great bands over the past 30 years.

British music! no doubt ....

Chears from Argentina

0_o wrote: USA has the best hip hop uncontested. Europe took acid house and ran with it. Not sure who is to blame for "trance" but they should be a little embarrassed.

Giorgio Moroder and Donna Summer - I Feel Love (1978)

Another major influence on trance music was the 1982 Simple Minds' album New Gold Dream '81'82'83'84. In particular, the title track which the Italians loved and is still highly regarded everywhere.

And Mr Nash, you've probably already realised, but Bryan Adams is from Vancouver.

:)

British bands are just so great!

I love concerning myself with what country the music I listen to and love comes from!

Sometimes, I am like, "whoa, this is a great song, I bet some beautiful person in Ye Olde England crafted it, next to the blacksmith! They put shoes on horses!"

so fun!

leather_girl wrote: The vast majority of the rock/pop bands I like are British. I listen to some rock/pop that are Japanese (mainly older stuff though), as well as some that are from other countries in Europe. (And a little bit from the US and Australia.) The majority of dance music that I like comes from all over Europe, although some are Japanese. However, I also listen to jazz, and the vast majority of jazz/easy listening stuff I listen to are American.

So for me it depends on the type of music.

Agree it has to do with genre...

Post-Punk - Britain

Indie - US

Country - US

Pop - US

Electronica - Britain

Electronic - Britain

Jazz - US

Proto-punk - Britain

Rap / R&B - US

Punk is a toss up, as it could go either way.

So as it goes for music as a whole, US wins, hands down... but as for music in my taste, Britain wins hands down.

EdelBrock wrote:

leather_girl wrote: The vast majority of the rock/pop bands I like are British. I listen to some rock/pop that are Japanese (mainly older stuff though), as well as some that are from other countries in Europe. (And a little bit from the US and Australia.) The majority of dance music that I like comes from all over Europe, although some are Japanese. However, I also listen to jazz, and the vast majority of jazz/easy listening stuff I listen to are American.

So for me it depends on the type of music.

Agree it has to do with genre...

Post-Punk - Britain

Indie - US

Country - US

Pop - US

Electronica - Britain

Electronic - Britain

Jazz - US

Proto-punk - Britain

Rap / R&B - US

Punk is a toss up, as it could go either way.

So as it goes for music as a whole, US wins, hands down... but as for music in my taste, Britain wins hands down.

I think we have a winner! You hit the nail on the head! Well said. Lets add this to your list. We can't forget the greatest Guitarist that ever lived - Robert Johnson: The King of The Delta Blues. He is ranked 5 on Rolling Stones list, but should have been number one in front of Hendrix.

Blues - US