British or American?

Discussion in 'Music Corner' started by shredking92, Dec 4, 2018.

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  1. shredking92

    shredking92 Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    Massachusetts
    This has been on my mind a bit recently, so I thought I'd pose the question to everyone here--based on your personal preference and listening habits, would you choose British or American music?

    This being purely hypothetical(obviously,) the catch is that the one you don't choose is erased from history, not just unavailable for future listening (for the sake of brevity we'll ignore the fact the a lot of British music wouldn't have been made without influence from American artists and vice versa.) Another stipulation is that music from other countries remains regardless of your choice. Bands like Nicks-era Fleetwood Mac can be included in either.

    Obviously this just for fun, but I'm curious to know how you guys see this.
     
  2. thematinggame

    thematinggame Forum Resident

    Location:
    Germany
    depends a little on the decade
    60's and 70's both
    89's and 90 's definitely British
     
    Echo, Lance LaSalle and negative1 like this.
  3. Mr. Pleasant

    Mr. Pleasant Forum Resident

    Location:
    Ottawa, Canada
    Most of my favourite music is British so I would have to go with that. Though there is of course quite a lot of American music that rates very highly for me as well.
     
    FJFP, Woozoom939, dougb222 and 7 others like this.
  4. Most of a narrow listening range are going to list the Beatles, Stones, Who, Zeppelin, etc., and say they prefer British music. Yet they'll be dismissive towards most British music from the 80s onward, except for a few Britpop and synth pop diehards. Whilst also being dismissive, unknowledgeable of all the great US jazz, blues, country, soul, bluegrass, r&b, gospel, rockabilly, etc., that the very narrow '66 -'73 heyday of the Beatles, Stones, Who is built upon, and supported by.


    The Blasters - American Music
     
  5. Picca

    Picca Forum Resident

    Location:
    Modena, Italy
    Brit
     
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  6. Parachute Woman

    Parachute Woman Forum Resident

    Location:
    USA
    Generally speaking, my tastes are more "American." Bluesier, rootsier, and I've never been a huge fan of super English sounding music such as the Kinks or XTC. I like stuff like the Doors, the Beach Boys, ZZ Top and lots of American singer-songwriters. That being said, my favorite band is British but their sound is deeply American. I speak, of course, of the Stones. Exile on Main St is my favorite album--a deep dive into American roots music recorded by British men primarily in France...

    Several of my other favorite artists (Joni Mitchell, Bjork, Leonard Cohen) are neither British nor American.

    So... I'll pick American with the caveat that I get to keep the Stones because they are the most American-sounding British band imaginable. :)
     
  7. carlwm

    carlwm Forum Resident

    Location:
    wales
    American for rock & country.

    British/European for folk & classical.

    Many exceptions for both!
     
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  8. dlemaudit

    dlemaudit Forum Resident

    Location:
    France, Paris area
    my record collection is roughly 60 % USA , 25 % British , 15 % Australian / NZ / Europe
     
    Lightworker likes this.
  9. steviebee

    steviebee Always playing Ese and The Vooduu People

    Location:
    London, England
    Looking through my record collection, mostly US I guess, a lot of 60s/70s, lot of jazz... UK for the likes of PiL, Siouxsie and Kate Bush, Clash etc.

    When I was in my teens - 20s, I was much more interested in American music than British (mainly due to acid rock, Zappa etc and of course the jazz greats).

    Orchestral/classical: worldwide!
     
  10. Duke Fame

    Duke Fame Sold out the Enormodome

    Location:
    Tampa, FL
    There's British music? Or do you mean who does American music better, Brits or Americans? :D
     
    Yost, Guy E, Saint Johnny and 15 others like this.
  11. Dylancat

    Dylancat Forum Resident

    Location:
    Cincinnati, OH
    Why not both? meme
     
  12. 2141

    2141 Forum Resident

    I've always been amazed at how, if you really get objective on the subject, the Brits have produced the dominate rock and roll musical entities for decades now. Of course I'm not saying there is not tons of great American music out there - there most certainly is! But, when you start thinking about the true biggest bands, the top dogs are English: The Beatles, Stones, Zeppelin, The Who, Pink Floyd, Queen, Bowie, Elton John, Kinks, etc. Even great Americans like Hendrix had to go to England to break big in the beginning; folks here just didn't get it right away. Now it's true I'm not up on everything that's brand new, but I'd be willing to bet that too is British heavy. Thing is, in this case I'm referring to music with the most staying power, and that does appear to lean heavily British. I have never really understood why, but I do think it's true. :agree:
     
    Last edited: Dec 4, 2018
    Jarleboy, Zongadude, xfilian and 3 others like this.
  13. Thievius

    Thievius Blue Oyster Cult-ist

    Location:
    Syracuse, NY
    I abstain. Its a silly exercise. I listen to music, not countries.
     
  14. TerpStation

    TerpStation "Music's not for everyone."

    Location:
    DC Metro
    Have to be the states. For a lifetime of listening, for me, Dylan and the Dead (not playing together) are it. There is also Jazz where my favorite artists are nearly all from the usa.
     
    joannenugent, frightwigwam and laf848 like this.
  15. manxman

    manxman Forum Resident

    Location:
    Isle of Man
    British. Whilst my favourite band (Jefferson Airplane) is American, by the end of the sixties the British rock scene had far outclassed its American counterpart.
     
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  16. ggergm

    ggergm another spring another baseball season

    Location:
    Minnesota
    Without American music the jazz I could listen to would be very limited, so I'll say American.

    Otherwise, I reject the premise. A man does not live by bread alone.
     
  17. Love both for different reasons. Love what the British have done with blues, rock, soul and vice versa. Great music comes from all of the influences.
     
    Jarleboy likes this.
  18. Exile On My Street

    Exile On My Street Senior Member

    Location:
    Long Island, NY
    Should have been a poll.

    My favorite band is British, the Stones, but they were heavily influenced by American music.

    After that I listen to mostly American music. I enjoy American roots music, some Country and Blues and rock music influenced by those styles.
     
  19. gregorya

    gregorya I approve of this message

    If you average out the British and American influences... Canada!

    :)
     
  20. lobo

    lobo Music has always been a matter of Energy to me...

    Location:
    Germany
    I like tomatoe and I like tomato :)

    Mostly British music, some South American and less from the northern part of the Americas.
     
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  21. shredking92

    shredking92 Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    Massachusetts
    Some interesting responses so far, but I'd point out that the hypothetical is full stop, no exceptions. Part of the dilemma is that in choosing British folk you'd be giving up American country, so on and so forth.

    You're right, I wish I'd thought to include one.
     
    negative1 likes this.
  22. eflatminor

    eflatminor Forum Resident

    Location:
    Nevada
    This^
     
  23. Bender Rodriguez

    Bender Rodriguez RIP Exene, best dog ever. 2005-2016

    American. It's not even close. Jazz, R&B, Soul are all superior to...I don't know...skiffle?
     
    Guy E, Ste_S, rocknsoul74 and 12 others like this.
  24. Sondek

    Sondek Forum Resident

    Black Sabbath
    Queen
    The Beatles
    Led Zeppelin
    Kate Bush
    David Bowie
    The Rolling Stones
    The Cure
    Pink Floyd
    Radiohead
    Iron Maiden

    I could go on but what it comes down to is most of the artists / groups I like are British.
     
  25. LivingForever

    LivingForever Forum Arachibutyrophobic

    I wouldn’t find it hard to pick British music in this scenario.

    But make me choose between British music and music from Scandinavia, and I’d be in trouble.
     
    tages, Isradex13, Jarleboy and 2 others like this.
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