The Ultimate Decision: U.K. vs. U.S.A.

[Indiana Sev]

It's finally come to this. ;)

The diversity of musical likes and dislikes on this forum is so varied that I'm curious as to where most of you think the best and more important musical contributions have come from in the rock era (post-'55).

This is an almost impossible decision to make. As much as I love and see the importance and value of The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and dozens of other British acts I hold the same esteem for Bob Dylan, Elvis Presley, the sound of Motown and dozens of other American rock acts. I made my final decision based mostly on the fact that the majority of my favorite bands hail from the U.S.

Now as far the as the most important musical influence goes, that's even trickier. I can't (or won't) deny that the arrival of The Beatles and the British invasion that ensued revived rock 'n roll and brought it to a whole other level in 1964 and beyond. BUT, there is also no denying that these acts, for the most part, were all influenced by the American rock 'n roll movement that began in late 1954. The music carried over to the U.K., as well as the tours, and the rest is history. Otherwise, they might still be playing skiffle music. ;) Okay, it isn't as cut and dry as that, but in my opinion, the edge also goes to the United States as far as the most important musical contribution goes.

Of course, this is just my opinion and it's all subjective, so feel free to post reasonings to your own choices if you want.

Also, take into account that the question refers to the entire period from 1954-2004.

[Frank the Tank]

The U.K. has many bands I love in it (Iron Maiden, Joy Division, The Cure, Carcass), but USA has just more bands I love and most of my fave metal bands came from USA (Slayer, Megadeth, Acid Bath, Metallica, Down, as well as RHCP, Pixies, Talking Heads)

[The Heart Collector]

This is like Sophie's Choice, I tell you.

I can't pick.

[jeo4]

I think you hit it on the head, Sev. US music is much more influential to the world. I will never deny my love for the invasion of the 60's, but overall, US acts are better and more influential. To be fair though, most of what I like is old school.

UK acts I dig:

The Beatles
Led Zeppelin
The Yardbirds
Eric Clapton
The Who
The Rolling Stones (somewhat)
U2 (Ireland is part of the motherland, isn't it?)
The Kinks
The Cult
Billy Idol
Def Leppard
Fleetwood Mac (Both the UK and the US are represented here.)
AC/DC
Duran Duran (Laugh all you want.)
Powerstation


Some of my favorite US Acts:

Disturbed
Van Halen
Aerosmith
Metallica (1990 and before, please...the newer stuff is way overrated)
Helmet
Nine Inch Nails
The Doors
Soundgarden
Audioslave
Alice in Chains
Nirvana
Pearl Jam
Stone Temple Pilots
Queensryche
The Eagles
Elvis Presley
Kiss
Alice Cooper
Stevie Ray Vaughn
Greenday
Counting Crows
Slipknot
Creed (Again, laugh all you want.)
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Godsmack

Just to name a few.

[BadCoverVersion]

It really is almost too close to call, but I'm going to stump for my homeland...and here's just a few reasons why:

Pulp
The Stone Roses
The Smiths
Morrissey
Joy Division
New Order
Radiohead
David Bowie
The Who
The Cure
Donovan
Nick Drake
Cat Stevens
Belle & Sebastian
T.Rex
Roxy Music
Van Morrison
The Faces
Depeche Mode
Aphez Twin
The Who
The Buzzcocks
The Clash
U2 (technically 'Oirish' but we win anyway ;))
The Happy Mondays
Kate Bush
Dusty Springfield
Sandie Shaw
Cabaret Voltaire
The Zombies
The Fall
Ian Dury & The Blockheads
Badly Drawn Boy
The Jam
The Specials
Billy Bragg
The Kinks
Tears For Fears
Echo & The Bunnymen
The Jesus & Mary Chain
The Chemical Brothers
The Prodigy

And right about now...

Franz Ferdinand
Keane
The Streets
Snow Patrol
Dizzee Rascal
The Libertines
Muse
The Zutons

Plus you just can't deny the influence Pink Floyd, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Queen, Cream, The Sex Pistols, Led Zeppelin, Elton John, Black Sabbath, Yes, The Who et al have had on the industry as a whole.

[Sigur509]

UK

Radiohead
The Beatles
The Cure
Depeche Mode
Coldplay
The Smiths
Belle & Sebastian
Morrissey
U2
Nick Drake
Portishead
Duran Duran
Bush
The Jesus & Mary Chain
Joy Division
New Order

U.S.A

Elliott Smith
Jon Brion
The White Stripes
The Red Hot Chili Peppers
The Flaming Lips
Ray Charles
The Velvet Underground
Neil Diamond
Nine Inch Nails
The Smashing Pumpkins
Elvis
The Pixies
Interpol
Mazzy Star
The Shins
Toadies
Beck

I cant pick one, I'll flip a coin.

U.S.A Wins.

[BadCoverVersion]

Oh, and I'll chuck some U.S acts into the mix, so as not to sound too biased.

Here's just a few grand artistes:

Scott Walker
Tom Waits
Lee Hazlewood
Nancy Sinatra
Gram Parsons/Flying Burrito Brothers
The Velvet Underground
'The King' (William Shatner :D)
Prince
Iggy Pop
Love
The White Stripes
Nirvana
Sparks
R.E.M
Blondie
Neutral Milk Hotel
Johnny Cash
The Ramones

Plus some recent faves...

Interpol! (Oh so Joy Division mind)
Scissor Sisters
Yeah Yeah Yeah's
The Killers

Methinks the UK wins hands down regardless...but when you take scale/population into account we absolutely clean up

Still, it's all about personal preference...and we both have much to offer. To be fair I reckon France have got it going on too with their Serge, Jacques Brel, Polnoref and Francoise Hardy.

[BadCoverVersion]

Originally posted by Sigur509
U.S.A

Portishead

U.S.A Wins.

Um, I don't mean to piss on your parade but Portishead hail from a little town in England called...um, Portishead.

;)

[notchreturns]

My favorite band is from England, but aside from that... um. The US, I'd have to say... and these are bands/artists that are well-regarded, not liked by myself per se...

Beach Boys
Smashing Pumpkins
Jimi Hendrix
R.E.M.
Talking Heads
The Velvet Underground
Pixies
Bob Dylan
James Brown
Chuck Berry
Miles David
Bruce Springstein
The Stooges
Johnny Cash
The Doors
Aretha Franklin
Stevie Wonder
Buddy Holly
Michael Jackson
Nirvana
Elvis
Prince
John Coltrane
The Flaming Lips
Pavement
MC5
NWA
Public Enemy
Outkast
Wu-Tang
Iggy Pop
Lou Reed
Sonic Youth
Television
Tom Waits
Frank Zappa
Pearl Jam
Al Green
Charles Mingus
Jeff Buckley
Elliott Smith
Stevie Ray Vaughn
The White Stripes
The Ramones


Errrrrrrrm.

I don't know... US just seems to have the edge when to comes to diversity.

[Sigur509]

Originally posted by BadCoverVersion
Um, I don't mean to piss on your parade but Portishead hail from a little town in England called...um, Portishead.

;)

Whoops. :)

[chilli pepper]

We've (the US) got Metallica, Pantera, Kiss, and, well, fuck it, the usa has metallica, we win.

[Tom Samborski]

I chose U.K. The majority of my favorite bands are British, and a few of them were the ones that got me into music.

[paul calf]

well i know i'm biased but i have to say for pure quality and diversity the uk win's it quite easy for me.

if you look at it this way the 2 most successful bands of all time are the rolling stones and the beatles,and just behind them are queen,the bee gee's and led zepplin none of them are my cup of tea but you cannot deny the influence and success they have had.
i must admit our solo artist's don't come near elvis or wacko who put our nearest competitor's probably david bowie and elton john in the shade when it comes to sales and fan base.
but as i said for shear quality i don't think you can beat

the who
the jam
the sex pistols
the smiths
t rex
the stone roses
joy division
new order
echo and the bunnymen
embrace
snow patrol
starsailor
the verve
the libertines
franz ferdinand
oasis
Pulp
Morrissey
Radiohead
David Bowie
The Cure
Depeche Mode
keane
ian brown
coldplay
The Buzzcocks
The Clash
The Happy Mondays
The Fall
Badly Drawn Boy
The Specials
The Kinks
Tears For Fears
The Chemical Brothers

oh and u2 are an irish band so i don't count them.

[ToRontoRon]

UK for sure.

[bob]

I voted UK to keep it close, but really I'm going to have to be a bitch and say I can't decide.

[The Heart Collector]

Originally posted by jeo4
UK acts I dig:
AC/DC


That's Australia.