American/British Music Scene

[barters]

I think this is the right area to post this. I'm sat at home watching some live footage of The Arctic Monkeys from a couple of weekends ago and I was thinking generally about the music scene At the moment and it might be biased but as far as I can tell the 'alternative/guitar' music is utterly dominated by British bands. There are bands like Foo Fighters and some others I can't quite think of right now form America but other than that it's scarce. Whereas if I think of British artists I am really into at the moment loads come to mind. Certainly when I was travelling the States a few months back there seemed a seperate British section in most record stores.

Arctic Monkeys
The Kooks
Bloc Party
Lilly Allen
Stereophonics
The Automatic


Anyway, my question is: Why does there seem to be a lack of this type of music coming out of America.

Also, it's completely posible that I've misread the situation and this is not the case at all. Just wondering peoples opinions?

[Play2win]

Thanks for the list... I am in dire need of some "Fresh" music... America hasn't had any in a while... as a matter of a fact, I've switched to getting into alot of Electronica, because atleast there seems to be some "New" stuff coming out in that direction. Germany has some pretty cool stuff...


But I still love good ROCK and a searing Guitar... Its just alot harder to find these days...

Oh, well, I think I'll go listen to my old DICK DALE album (mp3)...

[barters]

There is more, if you like electronica check out Mylo and Pendulum. Slam by Pendulum is such a tune!

[Play2win]

Originally Posted by barters

There is more, if you like electronica check out Mylo and Pendulum. Slam by Pendulum is such a tune!

Absolutely... I will definitely check those out... Let me know of any others! pm me if you want... Thanks, man, er, I mean... CHEERS!!

[LordHelmchen]

Originally Posted by barters

There is more, if you like electronica check out Mylo and Pendulum. Slam by Pendulum is such a tune!

that's a great track

check out the video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?search=slam&v=t-Ybf4-PxCA


http://video.google.de/videoplay?doc...9822680&q=slam

[Tombstone RJ]

Originally Posted by barters

I think this is the right area to post this. I'm sat at home watching some live footage of The Arctic Monkeys from a couple of weekends ago and I was thinking generally about the music scene At the moment and it might be biased but as far as I can tell the 'alternative/guitar' music is utterly dominated by British bands. There are bands like Foo Fighters and some others I can't quite think of right now form America but other than that it's scarce. Whereas if I think of British artists I am really into at the moment loads come to mind. Certainly when I was travelling the States a few months back there seemed a seperate British section in most record stores.

Arctic Monkeys
The Kooks
Bloc Party
Lilly Allen
Stereophonics
The Automatic


Anyway, my question is: Why does there seem to be a lack of this type of music coming out of America.

Also, it's completely posible that I've misread the situation and this is not the case at all. Just wondering peoples opinions?

There's alot of crap music out of the Brits (Posh Spice, etc.) but I tend to think that the Brits cutting edge music is superior, overall, than US bands.

[Pontius Pirate]

British rock has a big hot-air hose stuffed right up it's butt, and that hose is called NME. All those bands you mentioned, with the exception of Bloc Party, are all overhyped garbage. I'll do you a favor and suggest you also avoid Razorlight, Muse, Kasabian, The Editors, and the Kaiser Chiefs (no band with "Chiefs" in it can be good, am I right?). All trash. If you've read NME lately, they will have undoubtedly called every U.K. band they talk about "the saviors of rock and roll" or something ridiculous like that.

You hear less about great American bands because U.S. indie rock critics are so ashamed at saying something is great that the only bands that get labeled "amazing" are usually so obscure and unlistenable as to induce immediate head-scratching so you essentially can't object to the reviewer. These bands include Animal Collective, Black Dice, Comets on Fire, Fiery Furnaces, etc. Pitchfork is to blame for this.

So on one hand you have NME who orgasm each time they listen to something and then you have Pitchfork in the U.S. who just sigh each time they listen to something. Unfortunately the only U.S. rock that actually hits the radio is the Warped Tour bands that are geared towards the under 18 crowd.

Here is my humble opinion of the best young U.S. rock bands: The National, Magnolia Electric Co., and Okkervil River.

[Tombstone RJ]

Originally Posted by Pontius Pirate

British rock has a big hot-air hose stuffed right up it's butt, and that hose is called NME. All those bands you mentioned, with the exception of Bloc Party, are all overhyped garbage. I'll do you a favor and suggest you also avoid Razorlight, Muse, Kasabian, The Editors, and the Kaiser Chiefs (no band with "Chiefs" in it can be good, am I right?). All trash. If you've read NME lately, they will have undoubtedly called every U.K. band they talk about "the saviors of rock and roll" or something ridiculous like that.

You hear less about great American bands because U.S. indie rock critics are so ashamed at saying something is great that the only bands that get labeled "amazing" are usually so obscure and unlistenable as to induce immediate head-scratching so you essentially can't object to the reviewer. These bands include Animal Collective, Black Dice, Comets on Fire, Fiery Furnaces, etc. Pitchfork is to blame for this.

So on one hand you have NME who orgasm each time they listen to something and then you have Pitchfork in the U.S. who just sigh each time they listen to something. Unfortunately the only U.S. rock that actually hits the radio is the Warped Tour bands that are geared towards the under 18 crowd.

Here is my humble opinion of the best young U.S. rock bands: The National, Magnolia Electric Co., and Okkervil River.

Everybody has an opinion, and I guess that's yours.

As for why US bands don't get alot of recognition as being "good" or not has little to do with the media or press, and alot more to do with the actual music.

I agree, they are out there, you just have to find those bands. Don't ever let someone else tell you what is good or not good. Listen for yourself, if you like it, buy it.

[watermock]

I don't care if it comes from N. Korea. Honestly, the vast majority of music thrown out sucks now.

[Hogan11]

The answer is fairly easy. The US charts are geared more toward electronic dance music and hip hop than rock and roll (of any genre)....the UK was always more trendy in it's musical tastes..but many of it's chart toppers are rock acts of some stripe....not the case in the USA and hasn't been (save for the brief grunge thing in the early 90's) since the age of disco. The teenyboppers always just wanna a beat to dance to you know.

If you want rock these days, you have to dig for it and search it out....no matter your taste, it's out there but you won't find it on MTV or hear it on Rick Dees And The Weekly Top 40.

[Play2win]

Originally Posted by Hogan11

The answer is fairly easy. The US charts are geared more toward electronic dance music and hip hop than rock and roll (of any genre)....the UK was always more trendy in it's musical tastes..but many of it's chart toppers are rock acts of some stripe....not the case in the USA and hasn't been (save for the brief grunge thing in the early 90's) since the age of disco. The teenyboppers always just wanna a beat to dance to you know.

If you want rock these days, you have to dig for it and search it out....no matter your taste, it's out there but you won't find it on MTV or hear it on Rick Dees And The Weekly Top 40.

But you might find it on Little Steven's Underground Garage...

[Maximus]

Originally Posted by barters

I think this is the right area to post this. I'm sat at home watching some live footage of The Arctic Monkeys from a couple of weekends ago and I was thinking generally about the music scene At the moment and it might be biased but as far as I can tell the 'alternative/guitar' music is utterly dominated by British bands. There are bands like Foo Fighters and some others I can't quite think of right now form America but other than that it's scarce. Whereas if I think of British artists I am really into at the moment loads come to mind. Certainly when I was travelling the States a few months back there seemed a seperate British section in most record stores.

Arctic Monkeys
The Kooks
Bloc Party
Lilly Allen
Stereophonics
The Automatic


Anyway, my question is: Why does there seem to be a lack of this type of music coming out of America.

Also, it's completely posible that I've misread the situation and this is not the case at all. Just wondering peoples opinions?

Amazing... I think I have purchased 30 CD's over the last month or so and the only non-electric music I bought was Johnny Guitar Watson! As I type I'm listening to Paul Okenfold ( A Lively Mind )

[Sir Mawn]

I personally thing both Muse and Kasabian are extraordinary bands.

I think many british bands focus on music (especially melody) instead of entertainment. In general, I think british bands are superior, IMHO.

[Sir Mawn]

Listen to the new Muse album, BTW. Great stuff.

[Dagmar]

Everyone should lsten to the new Midlake album, it is stunning!

[Pontius Pirate]

Originally Posted by Hogan11

If you want rock these days, you have to dig for it and search it out....no matter your taste, it's out there but you won't find it on MTV or hear it on Rick Dees And The Weekly Top 40.

Unfortunately a lot of the best music right now is coming from Canada.

I don't think it's that hard to find great U.S. rock and roll though. Just don't expect it to come from the radio or MTV. I like pandora.com or kexp.org. For music reviews, check out spacecityrock.com

[Pontius Pirate]

Originally Posted by Dagmar

Everyone should lsten to the new Midlake album, it is stunning!

Yeah, it's good stuff. And they're from Texas. They sound like Ghost of the Russian Empire.

Cold War Kids are pretty good too. Their bass player is a crackhead though.

[HAT]

Originally Posted by Play2Win

Thanks for the list... I am in dire need of some "Fresh" music... America hasn't had any in a while... as a matter of a fact, I've switched to getting into alot of Electronica, because atleast there seems to be some "New" stuff coming out in that direction. Germany has some pretty cool stuff...


But I still love good ROCK and a searing Guitar... Its just alot harder to find these days...

Oh, well, I think I'll go listen to my old DICK DALE album (mp3)...

Some "Fresh" music from an old band that never got enough credit even back in the day:

New album from The Alarm 'Under Attack'

Only vocalist Mike Peters is left from the original band but he has put together a great group of musicians behind him.

Mike Peters: vocals/guitar....The Alarm & Colorsound with Billy Duffy
James Stevenson: guitar/vocals.... Gen X & Gene Loves Jezebel
Craig Adams: bass/vocals....Sisters of Mercy, Mission UK, The Cult
Steve Grantly: drums.....Stiff little Fingers

Under Attack is their second go 'round with this line up and they are tight. Very well reviewed as well.

Here's the lead track from Under Attack (Superchannel)
http://thealarm.com/videodisp.asp?id=32

Cheesy video but the tune is outstanding (nice crunchy solo)

[Kid A]

Don't forget Canada! (arcade fire, stars, new pornographers, godspeed you black emporer, broken social scene, nickleback...ok maybe not so much on the nickleback.)

As for the America vs. Britain issue, I think Hogan hit it on the head. There is rock being made, whether it be indie, lo-fi, metal, etc. but it can't be found anywhere in our tv or radio stations. Thank god I live in the internet era.

[Pontius Pirate]

I am digging on this right now:

http://www.myspace.com/thetownofnoxon

[Kaylore]

This Dead Ringers skit of Arctic Monkeys is pretty funny:

[epicSocialism4tw]

I think that the rock genre is undergoing some fundamental change right now similar to what we saw throughout the mid to late 70's into the mid 80's. The grunge era was pushed beyond it's shelf life by bands like Puddle of Nickelback and Three Doors Nixons Robb Thomas.

I think that we are in a refractory period where much of the young generation of musicians is trying to find a new voice. That's why critics enjoy bands like Mew, Arcade Fire, and the Animal Collective so much, IMO, because they provide a hint at the direction that much of the new music could go in. There will have to be significant artists that break into the Billboard top-20 to really start to change the landscape of American Rock because that's what it will take to get the labels out there into the bars again signing new talent. Thats when you'll hear the good stuff. It's out there and it's a few years away. American Idol hasnt made things any easier for the hard working bands out there either. Hopefully that thing will burn out soon just like all of its predecessors did and we can get down to the brass tacks of the rock music world again: the bands.

[24champ]

Originally Posted by angryllama

I think that the rock genre is undergoing some fundamental change right now similar to what we saw throughout the mid to late 70's into the mid 80's. The grunge era was pushed beyond it's shelf life by bands like Puddle of Nickelback and Three Doors Nixons Robb Thomas.

I think that we are in a refractory period where much of the young generation of musicians is trying to find a new voice. That's why critics enjoy bands like Mew, Arcade Fire, and the Animal Collective so much, IMO, because they provide a hint at the direction that much of the new music could go in. There will have to be significant artists that break into the Billboard top-20 to really start to change the landscape of American Rock because that's what it will take to get the labels out there into the bars again signing new talent. Thats when you'll hear the good stuff. It's out there and it's a few years away. American Idol hasnt made things any easier for the hard working bands out there either. Hopefully that thing will burn out soon just like all of its predecessors did and we can get down to the brass tacks of the rock music world again: the bands.

That is the exact reason why I think American Idol sucks ass because its all about how you present yourself instead of the music. Same thing with MTV.

[Hogan11]

Originally Posted by 24champbailey

That is the exact reason why I think American Idol sucks ass because its all about how you present yourself instead of the music. Same thing with MTV.

Exactly.....American Idol is pure evil in that regard. It represents the triumph of style over substance, the performer over the artist. IMHO The quicker that brain-washing, swill pushing show is off the air, the better.

[NaptownChief]

Originally Posted by Hogan11

The answer is fairly easy. The US charts are geared more toward electronic dance music and hip hop than rock and roll (of any genre)....the UK was always more trendy in it's musical tastes..but many of it's chart toppers are rock acts of some stripe....not the case in the USA and hasn't been (save for the brief grunge thing in the early 90's) since the age of disco. The teenyboppers always just wanna a beat to dance to you know.

If you want rock these days, you have to dig for it and search it out....no matter your taste, it's out there but you won't find it on MTV or hear it on Rick Dees And The Weekly Top 40.

This is pretty much spot on...

The one great purpose for myspace.com is digging for good non-main stream music. Musicians will link up as friends of similar type artist and they will seek you out if they know you like their style of music. I like more progressive non-traditional rock like Shawn Mullins, John Prine, Jackie Greene, Big Head Todd and stuff like that...By linking up as a friend to their myspace I have gotten turned on to several great muscians of a similar style that I would have otherwise never known about.