Brits Vs Yanks

coffeeshop · 01-27-2007, 05:09 AM

I used to like British more before I found Sonic Youth.

Sneer · 01-27-2007, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moon Pix

Id say the States by a long long way and Im British! One thing I can't stand about some British music is the fact that quite a few British songwriters get hung up on their Britishness and feel they have to keep going on about it. Ive always hated Blur for this, this "blimey guvnor, it sure is a lavely mornin'" crap that rears its head in their music. Even the Kinks, one of the seminal British bands, fell victim to this later on. One of the things I like about American music is that a lot of it isnt about mommas apple pie and going to the ball park. Some American songwriters do that like Springsteen but I don't find it as irritating cause I don't think he's reducing the States to a parody of itself when he does it.

Its reared its head again recently with the Libertines and all of these crappy punk revivalist bands. Theres a few British bands I like (Jesus & Mary Chain, Spacemen 3, the Slits plus a few more) and one of the things I like about them is that you wouldnt know they were British from listening to them.

Besides that just about all of my favourite songwriters, bands, comedians, actors, writers and directors are American. American's just tend to have more balls.

so whem americans write about the traditions and staples of their culture its in good taste... yet when british bands do it its a parody... how did you come up with that one? Alot of american music could be, as you say, a parody, Rap - biggest 'parody' in the book, country - ditto, a LOT of rock - again. Music is built upon the artists up-bringing, background, traditions and way of life, i think its what i love about english music.

Moon Pix · 01-27-2007, 11:37 AM

Americans don't act all f***ing twee about it though. The only band I can think of that came as across as being distinctly British in a genuine way was the Clash.

Sneer · 01-27-2007, 12:10 PM

you could say the whole british punk explosion of the 70's approached it in the same way. The Damned certainly did. British music has a sense of nostalgia, pride and romance when reffering to the core traditions and customs of the country. Britian has a richer history then america with deeper, unique customs and thats reflected in the music. Whats wrong with that?

Moon Pix · 01-27-2007, 12:18 PM

Theres nothing wrong with it, its just that its something that turns me off. Im not into nostalgia. There never was a golden age of England. It didnt exist. To me all these bands being so hung on being British and being so in yer face about it, they may as well just put "Jerusalem" to music and have done with it. Modern Britain is an urbanised dump where the bus stops get vandalised and kids are shagging in the streets , thats the Britain I want to hear about, not some romanticised idyllic fairyland from a hundred years ago were the salt of the Earth doffed their caps to ladies and gentlemen drinking tea on the lawn.

Would we still be talking about the Velvet Underground if their songs were all about the American Civil War? I wouldnt bother listening to 'em.

Sneer · 01-27-2007, 12:37 PM

and you get bands writing about the mundane reality of british life. they may not be your favourite bands, but the libertines, the streets, jamie T, Get cape blah, arctic monkeys and hard-fi all talk about what your suggesting. Hardly as if its something british music avoids. so to say british music is all twee is a completely unfounded remark. I've never said there was a golden age, its just heritage. British people seem to have a unique pride for their country which with some bands comes out in the lyrics. I guess you could call it patriotism.

And your VU point is useless, that wasnt Reed's style.

Moon Pix · 01-27-2007, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stu

British people seem to have a unique pride for their country which with some bands comes out in the lyrics. I guess you could call it patriotism.

You may have hit on the underlying thing of why I don't like it. Im no patriot and it pisses me off when you get British people Yank bashing and talking about how great British culture is. Personally I think most of its pure s*** but thats just my opinion.

British tradition is dancing around a pole. American tradition is the blues and Southern literature. Theres a hell of a difference.

Sneer · 01-27-2007, 12:47 PM

thats completely understandable, not everyone has the same opinions, i just happen to be one of the 'patriots', i dont think british culture is great at all, but its my culture so i may aswell embrace it. For the record ALOT of my favourite bands happen to be american, in fact im more into music from the otherside if the pond at the moment, but for me you cant beat your quaint little english bands either

Sneer · 01-27-2007, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moon Pix

You may have hit on the underlying thing of why I don't like it. Im no patriot and it pisses me off when you get British people Yank bashing and talking about how great British culture is. Personally I think most of its pure s*** but thats just my opinion.

British tradition is dancing around a pole. American tradition is the blues and Southern literature. Theres a hell of a difference.

Britian has spawned some of the greatest figures in literature. Shakespeare, blake, wordsworth, byron etc have helped shape our culture. We were after the romans and mongolians the greatest empire the world has seen, we had the swinging 60s, the industrial revolution and concorde, i love our country.

Moon Pix · 01-27-2007, 12:53 PM

Do you like Cat Power? She's my favourite artist. If you like American music you should check her stuff. Very American musically but lyrically she's not particuarly tied down to her country.

I think American artists tend to be more universal whereaes Brits tend to feel defensive about their country or something. Maybe its got something to do with American culture being imported everywhere, like McDonalds and Friends, two of the worst things to come out of American culture in my opinion.

01-27-2007, 05:09 AM	#611 (permalink)
coffeeshop From beyond the grave Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Merseyside, UK Posts: 480	I used to like British more before I found Sonic Youth. __________________ "In this Catholic Club they never had the **ing TV on and I was going, 'That Big Brother, it won't catch on. British people won't watch that .' And then they went, at nine o' clock, 'Shh!' and turned the telly on! It was, like, people asleep in bed. To me, I can't understand that. The encouraging thing is, 'You were right all along, Smith: people are stupid." - Mark E Smith**

01-27-2007, 11:37 AM	#613 (permalink)
Moon Pix In a very sad sad zoo Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: "Out on tour with Smashing Pumpkins, nature kids, they don't have no function" Posts: 363	Americans don't act all f***ing twee about it though. The only band I can think of that came as across as being distinctly British in a genuine way was the Clash. __________________ There’s a dream that I see, I pray it can be Look 'cross the land, shake this land - "Maybe Not", C. Marshall

01-27-2007, 12:10 PM	#614 (permalink)
Sneer Let it drip Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 5,430	you could say the whole british punk explosion of the 70's approached it in the same way. The Damned certainly did. British music has a sense of nostalgia, pride and romance when reffering to the core traditions and customs of the country. Britian has a richer history then america with deeper, unique customs and thats reflected in the music. Whats wrong with that? __________________ LastFM Sneer's Emporium of Sound Fright Team radio show

01-27-2007, 12:18 PM	#615 (permalink)
Moon Pix In a very sad sad zoo Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: "Out on tour with Smashing Pumpkins, nature kids, they don't have no function" Posts: 363	Theres nothing wrong with it, its just that its something that turns me off. Im not into nostalgia. There never was a golden age of England. It didnt exist. To me all these bands being so hung on being British and being so in yer face about it, they may as well just put "Jerusalem" to music and have done with it. Modern Britain is an urbanised dump where the bus stops get vandalised and kids are shagging in the streets , thats the Britain I want to hear about, not some romanticised idyllic fairyland from a hundred years ago were the salt of the Earth doffed their caps to ladies and gentlemen drinking tea on the lawn. Would we still be talking about the Velvet Underground if their songs were all about the American Civil War? I wouldnt bother listening to 'em. __________________ There’s a dream that I see, I pray it can be Look 'cross the land, shake this land - "Maybe Not", C. Marshall

01-27-2007, 12:37 PM	#616 (permalink)
Sneer Let it drip Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 5,430	and you get bands writing about the mundane reality of british life. they may not be your favourite bands, but the libertines, the streets, jamie T, Get cape blah, arctic monkeys and hard-fi all talk about what your suggesting. Hardly as if its something british music avoids. so to say british music is all twee is a completely unfounded remark. I've never said there was a golden age, its just heritage. British people seem to have a unique pride for their country which with some bands comes out in the lyrics. I guess you could call it patriotism. And your VU point is useless, that wasnt Reed's style. __________________ LastFM Sneer's Emporium of Sound Fright Team radio show

01-27-2007, 12:47 PM	#618 (permalink)
Sneer Let it drip Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 5,430	thats completely understandable, not everyone has the same opinions, i just happen to be one of the 'patriots', i dont think british culture is great at all, but its my culture so i may aswell embrace it. For the record ALOT of my favourite bands happen to be american, in fact im more into music from the otherside if the pond at the moment, but for me you cant beat your quaint little english bands either __________________ LastFM Sneer's Emporium of Sound Fright Team radio show

01-27-2007, 12:53 PM	#620 (permalink)
Moon Pix In a very sad sad zoo Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: "Out on tour with Smashing Pumpkins, nature kids, they don't have no function" Posts: 363	Do you like Cat Power? She's my favourite artist. If you like American music you should check her stuff. Very American musically but lyrically she's not particuarly tied down to her country. I think American artists tend to be more universal whereaes Brits tend to feel defensive about their country or something. Maybe its got something to do with American culture being imported everywhere, like McDonalds and Friends, two of the worst things to come out of American culture in my opinion. __________________ There’s a dream that I see, I pray it can be Look 'cross the land, shake this land - "Maybe Not", C. Marshall