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

EdelBrock wrote:

Indie - US

Wrong

UK -

New Order , The Smiths , Stone Roses , The Charlatans, Oasis, Wedding Present , Happy Mondays, The Cure , Depeche Mode, Jesus and the Marychain, Primal Scream, ACR, Blur ,Arctic Monkeys , and so on

US -

The Strokes , Pixies

Theres no big difference between either. Anglo-American music is mostly quite dull these days.

Tarbox23 wrote:

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!

Yeah, thats us.

US:

Sonic Youth Butthole Surfers Johnny Cash James Brown Nat King Cole Frank Sinatra Social Distortion Ramones Dead Kennedys Smashing Pumpkins Silversun pickups Sarah Mclachlan Nine Inch Nails

Foreign:

NO JD Electronic Cabaret Voltaire Einsturzende Neubauten Coil Wolfgang Press Nick Cave (with and without the Bad Seeds) Sisters of Mercy Sinead O'connor Stone Roses Charlatans Aphex Twin Royksopp

Prolly forgetting lots of good ones...these are just top of the head

Empress Touch wrote:

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.

Acid House ultimately has roots in Chicago/Detroit, but in the UK it picked up influences from Ibiza and British new wave synth.

Trance is basically a Dutch up-tempo version of Italo.

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 bollocks is it

Country - US all yours, big boy

Pop - US + many other countries

Electronica - Britain + many other mainly Euro countries

Jazz - US

Proto-punk - Britain is this a made up genre?

Rap / R&B - US

Punk is a toss up, as it could go either way. I don't think so.

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

Ian Curtis gave us Joy Division and then New Order. That's enough for me

Shug wrote: There is fucking shite music in every country.

Themed in level of cuntyness and blandness....

Depeche Mode vs Pixies

Eh? You must be one of those Corby lot affected by the steelworks. Did you get a payout?

Canada also gave us Rush.

I didn't know Earth was including UK + USA + Oceans only. I learn every day.

Ger Boy wrote:

EdelBrock wrote:

Indie - US

Wrong

UK -

New Order , The Smiths , Stone Roses , The Charlatans, Oasis, Wedding Present , Happy Mondays, The Cure , Depeche Mode, Jesus and the Marychain, Primal Scream, ACR, Blur ,Arctic Monkeys , and so on

US -

The Strokes , Pixies

and, yeah, so you clearly know absolutely nothing about indie rock. thanks for letting us all know.

Tarbox23 wrote:

Ger Boy wrote:

EdelBrock wrote:

Indie - US

Wrong

UK -

New Order , The Smiths , Stone Roses , The Charlatans, Oasis, Wedding Present , Happy Mondays, The Cure , Depeche Mode, Jesus and the Marychain, Primal Scream, ACR, Blur ,Arctic Monkeys , and so on

US -

The Strokes , Pixies

and, yeah, so you clearly know absolutely nothing about indie rock. thanks for letting us all know.

Ger Boy, almost all of those belong to Post-Punk (which by the way I already gave to UK)

Burt Burterson wrote:

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 bollocks is it

Country - US all yours, big boy

Pop - US + many other countries

Electronica - Britain + many other mainly Euro countries

Jazz - US

Proto-punk - Britain is this a made up genre?

Rap / R&B - US

Punk is a toss up, as it could go either way. I don't think so.

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

Last I saw it was a question on UK vs. US, so the reason I didn't include the rest of Europe... keep up with the conversation Bert.

and for your info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protopunk

The only one left in question is Indie... explain...

based upon my top 20 artists played (according to last.fm), i have 10 us acts, 9 uk acts and slapp happy (made up of one american, one brit and one german). therefore, i'll declare slapp happy to be the best band ever.

New Order Nina Simone Alex Chilton The Mekons David Bowie The Fall Prince Chromatics The Beach Boys Big Star The Beatles Slapp Happy Animal Collective The Velvet Underground Electronic The Smiths Liars Disco Inferno A Certain Ratio Michael Hurley

seriously, in the end i'd rate it a tie. both the us and britain have made incredible contributions to music. if the us is a bit more original, the uk seems a bit more daring.

and whoever said british proto-punk trumps us proto-punk needs to get their underwear out of their ears.

It really doesn't matter. America gave us Ramones and in return we gave the world Joy Division (not that anyone noticed at the time).

isaac wrote: It really doesn't matter. America gave us Ramones and in return we gave the world Joy Division (not that anyone noticed at the time).

well, Ian Curtis was mainly influenced by US bands:

Velvet Underground Iggy and the Stooges The Doors Frank Sinatra :)

and there'd be no Sex Pistols if not for the earlier US bands: New York Dolls and the Stooges.

EdelBrock wrote:

Burt Burterson wrote:

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 bollocks is it

Country - US all yours, big boy

Pop - US + many other countries

Electronica - Britain + many other mainly Euro countries

Jazz - US

Proto-punk - Britain is this a made up genre?

Rap / R&B - US

Punk is a toss up, as it could go either way. I don't think so.

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:

Last I saw it was a question on UK vs. US, so the reason I didn't include the rest of Europe... keep up with the conversation Bert.

Burt Burterson wrote:

Well you should try reading the answers before commenting. Which I did. As in, 'keeping up withe the conversation. Which, you didn't. Hence your mistake.

EdelBrock wrote:

and for your info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protopunk

Burt Burterson wrote:

Remarkable what wiki wankers come up with, retrospectively.

EdelBrock wrote:

The only one left in question is Indie... explain...

Burt Burterson wrote:

straightforward really... the term originated and only existed in the UK from the late 70's as a shortened version of the word 'independent', as in labels such as Factory, Creation etc. It did in the eighties become almost a style of music as listed in the 'indie chart' which was full of jangly guitar music back then. The US college charts followed suit with their own 'indie charts' and hence indie was born, almost forgetting the true meaning of the word.

jesse steichen wrote:

and whoever said british proto-punk trumps us proto-punk needs to get their underwear out of their ears.

As far as I'm concerned, obviously whatever term you guys have invented retrospectively, didn't exist at the time, or was named as such then and there. Therefore it is bollocks, and is the invention of some bored patriotic student, years after the event.

Arse.

Burt Burterson wrote:

EdelBrock wrote:

Burt Burterson wrote:

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 bollocks is it

Country - US all yours, big boy

Pop - US + many other countries

Electronica - Britain + many other mainly Euro countries

Jazz - US

Proto-punk - Britain is this a made up genre?

Rap / R&B - US

Punk is a toss up, as it could go either way. I don't think so.

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:

Last I saw it was a question on UK vs. US, so the reason I didn't include the rest of Europe... keep up with the conversation Bert.

Burt Burterson wrote:

Well you should try reading the answers before commenting. Which I did. As in, 'keeping up withe the conversation. Which, you didn't. Hence your mistake.

EdelBrock wrote:

and for your info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protopunk

Burt Burterson wrote:

Remarkable what wiki wankers come up with, retrospectively.

EdelBrock wrote:

The only one left in question is Indie... explain...

Burt Burterson wrote:

straightforward really... the term originated and only existed in the UK from the late 70's as a shortened version of the word 'independent', as in labels such as Factory, Creation etc. It did in the eighties become almost a style of music as listed in the 'indie chart' which was full of jangly guitar music back then. The US college charts followed suit with their own 'indie charts' and hence indie was born, almost forgetting the true meaning of the word.

Nice try Burt, but Indie is traced back to Velvet Underground... not UK. Most of the big Indie groups of UK in the 80s didn't remain indie, so as groups they are no longer indie... we didn't forget the meaning....

NO / JD - GB Animal collective - USA underground Resistance - USA Drexciya - USA Spacemen 3 / Spiritualized p - GB The Black Dog - GB Basic Channel / Rhythm & Sound - German The Jesus and Mary Chain - GB Velvet Underground - USA The XX - GB Cold Cave - USA B12 - GB Kraftwerk - German Jeff Miils - USA Rob Hood - USA

So pretty split across the atlantic.

Nice try Burt, but Indie is traced back to Velvet Underground... not UK. Most of the big Indie groups of UK in the 80s didn't remain indie, so as groups they are no longer indie... we didn't forget the meaning....

Huh? Then the VU weren't indie either as they were on a major label. Not that I care either way.

And most of the UK indie groups DID stay on indie labels all through the 80s - it was only in the US these same bands were picked up my major distributors.

FtotheDoubleOff wrote: Nice try Burt, but Indie is traced back to Velvet Underground... not UK. Most of the big Indie groups of UK in the 80s didn't remain indie, so as groups they are no longer indie... we didn't forget the meaning....

Huh? Then the VU weren't indie either as they were on a major label. Not that I care either way.

And most of the UK indie groups DID stay on indie labels all through the 80s - it was only in the US these same bands were picked up my major distributors.

I think what he's trying to say is that most indie bands owe a lot to VU. They are the grandfather of indie.

I'll go with American bands. It no secret and its not even debatable that most British bands have more roots in Americana.

Burt Burterson wrote:

jesse steichen wrote:

and whoever said british proto-punk trumps us proto-punk needs to get their underwear out of their ears.

As far as I'm concerned, obviously whatever term you guys have invented retrospectively, didn't exist at the time, or was named as such then and there. Therefore it is bollocks, and is the invention of some bored patriotic student, years after the event.

Arse.

of course it is. the "proto" prefix makes that obvious. it isn't like someone said "oh, let's go make a genre called punk, but not yet, and let's call these bands proto-punk, because this music sounds like what it punk will sound like, but it's not quite there yet." and patriotism has nothing to do with it.

it's a far more useful term than post-rock, say.