Which country (within the Anglosphere) makes the best music?

s_k · 12-05-2010, 07:58 PM

UK or US, not sure...

Ska Lagos Jew Sun Ra · 12-06-2010, 09:22 AM

US seconded by UK thirded by the frankly underrated Canada. If California were it's own country it'd still probably be in the lead. Yet, USA has a definitive geographical advantage, if you were to take a United States sized portion out of Middle Europe you'd be miles ahead of the rest of the list, even if they aren't English speaking countries.

Non-English countries like those from the Netherlands, Japan, and Russia(mostly for classical) also definitely are strong competitors even if not valid list choices for obvious reasons.

ThePhanastasio · 12-06-2010, 09:53 AM

I'll take the US on this one, although I'm quite enamored with a large amount of UK acts as well. (Queen, Bowie, Sex Pistols, Beatles, Sarah Brightman, The Who, Pink Floyd...)

The U.S., however...

Bob Dylan
The Grateful Dead
Frank Zappa
Trey Anastasio / Phish
Elliott Smith
Bright Eyes
Waylon Jennings
Bruce Springsteen
Bonnie Prince Billy / Will Oldham
Tom Waits
Steve Earle
Johnny Cash
Townes Van Zandt
Regina Spektor (I'll claim her as a U.S. act since she mostly grew up here)
DoseOne
Busdriver....

The list goes on and on.

Oh, I'll have to give Canada some props, too.

zachsd · 12-06-2010, 06:48 PM

The U.S., distinctly American artists that come to mind:

Bob Dylan
Captain Beefheart
Miles Davis
Thelonious Monk
John Coltrane
Philip Glass
John Cage
Robert Johnson
Townes van Zandt
Pavement
Sonic Youth
Talking Heads

The diversity of American music is another thing that trumps the UK. The UK has produced some great rock and pop musicians, but the jazz, blues, and classical genres are still and always have been dominated by Americans.

**Janszoon** · 12-07-2010, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zachsd

The diversity of American music is another thing that trumps the UK. The UK has produced some great rock and pop musicians, but the jazz, blues, and classical genres are still and always have been dominated by Americans.

Classical has always been dominated by Americans? I hope you're only talking about within the anglosphere. But even at that it still doesn't seem like a very likely statement.

zachsd · 12-07-2010, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Classical has always been dominated by Americans? I hope you're only talking about within the anglosphere. But even at that it still doesn't seem like a very likely statement.

I was thinking more contemporary classical, Americans have contributed much more to contemporary classical than British musicians. And yeah, of course I mean just the Anglosphere.

Zaqarbal · 12-08-2010, 07:34 PM

I still have to listen to a lot of music (and not only classical, BTW) but I think the few names I mentioned before (Leonard Bernstein, George Gershwin, Samuel Barber, Elmer Bernstein and John Cage) can give an idea of the American contribution to contemporary classical music.

Also, film-music composers, but that's another matter.

zachsd · 12-09-2010, 12:05 AM

Yeah, not to mention the fact that whole minimalist movement was led and initiated by Americans. Philip Glass, John Adams, Terry Riley, Steve Reich, etc.

Sljslj · 12-09-2010, 02:46 AM

For me it's a toss-up between Canada and Scandinavia. I chose Canada on the poll.

**Janszoon** · 12-11-2010, 06:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sljslj

For me it's a toss-up between Canada and Scandinavia. I chose Canada on the poll.

That's a sensible choice considering that Scandinavia isn't a country and isn't a part of the Anglosphere.

View Poll Results: Which English-speaking country produce the best music?
The United Kingdom	99	40.57%
Ireland	4	1.64%
The United States	106	43.44%
Canada	14	5.74%
Australia	8	3.28%
New Zealand	4	1.64%
Jamaica	2	0.82%
Other (which?)	7	2.87%
Voters: 244. You may not vote on this poll

12-05-2010, 07:58 PM	#301 (permalink)
s_k Music Addict Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 2,206	UK or US, not sure... __________________ Click here to see my collection

12-06-2010, 06:48 PM	#304 (permalink)
zachsd Music Addict Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 347	The U.S., distinctly American artists that come to mind: Bob Dylan Captain Beefheart Miles Davis Thelonious Monk John Coltrane Philip Glass John Cage Robert Johnson Townes van Zandt Pavement Sonic Youth Talking Heads The diversity of American music is another thing that trumps the UK. The UK has produced some great rock and pop musicians, but the jazz, blues, and classical genres are still and always have been dominated by Americans. __________________ lastfm rym

12-08-2010, 07:34 PM	#307 (permalink)
Zaqarbal Music Addict Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Spain Posts: 824	I still have to listen to a lot of music (and not only classical, BTW) but I think the few names I mentioned before (Leonard Bernstein, George Gershwin, Samuel Barber, Elmer Bernstein and John Cage) can give an idea of the American contribution to contemporary classical music. Also, film-music composers, but that's another matter. __________________ "Lullabies for adults / crossed by the years / carry the flower of disappointment / tattooed in their gloomy melodies."

12-09-2010, 12:05 AM	#308 (permalink)
zachsd Music Addict Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 347	Yeah, not to mention the fact that whole minimalist movement was led and initiated by Americans. Philip Glass, John Adams, Terry Riley, Steve Reich, etc. __________________ lastfm rym

12-06-2010, 09:22 AM	#302 (permalink)
Ska Lagos Jew Sun Ra \/ GOD Join Date: May 2010 Location: Nowhere... Posts: 2,179	US seconded by UK thirded by the frankly underrated Canada. If California were it's own country it'd still probably be in the lead. Yet, USA has a definitive geographical advantage, if you were to take a United States sized portion out of Middle Europe you'd be miles ahead of the rest of the list, even if they aren't English speaking countries. Non-English countries like those from the Netherlands, Japan, and Russia(mostly for classical) also definitely are strong competitors even if not valid list choices for obvious reasons.

12-06-2010, 09:53 AM	#303 (permalink)
ThePhanastasio Killed Laura Palmer Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Ashland, KY Posts: 1,679	I'll take the US on this one, although I'm quite enamored with a large amount of UK acts as well. (Queen, Bowie, Sex Pistols, Beatles, Sarah Brightman, The Who, Pink Floyd...) The U.S., however... Bob Dylan The Grateful Dead Frank Zappa Trey Anastasio / Phish Elliott Smith Bright Eyes Waylon Jennings Bruce Springsteen Bonnie Prince Billy / Will Oldham Tom Waits Steve Earle Johnny Cash Townes Van Zandt Regina Spektor (I'll claim her as a U.S. act since she mostly grew up here) DoseOne Busdriver.... The list goes on and on. Oh, I'll have to give Canada some props, too.

12-09-2010, 02:46 AM	#309 (permalink)
Sljslj The Omniscient Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Reno, Nevada, USA Posts: 998	For me it's a toss-up between Canada and Scandinavia. I chose Canada on the poll. __________________ MY LYRICS