What Country Has The Best Music?

[Nazulu]

From what I've heard, Britain or the US. A lot of the most powerful songs have come from these two. I'm referring mainly to the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s & 2000s though, don't know much that happened before then.

I haven't heard enough orchestral music to judge on that yet, but I'd say Russia and Germany have the most there.

 

[Gabriel Majeski]

I think It'd be interesting to ask this question but make it "Other than the UK and the US." I myself am an american, but I greatly enjoy music from both places. So instead of making this a giant pissing contest between "supposedly" the only two options (Nope, no cynicism there...) that in reality are at the top of the pile anyway (and who the fuck cares which is better, if you're getting good music out of it); instead let's get out of our geographic-auditory comfort zones and find something enjoyable other than the "big two."

Ok, I'll start...

I think Australia because ever since I got into bands like "Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds" and "Dirty Three" I've felt that the land-down-under's musical aspirations were the bees knees.

 

[darkman80723]

When I look at my top five favorite artists; Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Jimi Hendrix, NIN, and The Clash.....gotta say that the UK takes the prize.

Jimi Hendrix was an American.

OT: Austria. They gave us Mozart.

....yes....he was American. But if you know your history of rock and roll you'd know that he gained his initial success in the UK after a stagnant early career in the US, via the singles Hey Joe, Purple Haze, and Wind Cries Mary as well as his recording of Are You Experienced. So I believe that its safe to say if he had not gotten this initial success in the UK we might now have ever gotten such a guitar God as him.
Also, you fail to point out that NIN is also an American band, but they were just on my list of my greatest.

 

[Xpwn3ntial]

When I look at my top five favorite artists; Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Jimi Hendrix, NIN, and The Clash.....gotta say that the UK takes the prize.

Jimi Hendrix was an American.

OT: Austria. They gave us Mozart.

....yes....he was American. But if you know your history of rock and roll you'd know that he gained his initial success in the UK after a stagnant early career in the US, via the singles Hey Joe, Purple Haze, and Wind Cries Mary as well as his recording of Are You Experienced. So I believe that its safe to say if he had not gotten this initial success in the UK we might now have ever gotten such a guitar God as him.
Also, you fail to point out that NIN is also an American band, but they were just on my list of my greatest.

I don't much care for Nine Inch Nails, and Hendrix owing his fame to the U.K. does not change the fact he was an American musician. Much like how Slash is from the U.K. but owes his success to Guns 'N' Roses. It doesn't change the fact he is from the U.K.

 

[Dr. Feelgood]

I think we can pretty much agree that France brings nothing to the table when it comes to music. For me its probably the UK, that said i am in the middle of what could end up being a ZZ top marathon.

Not that there's anything wrong with ZZ Top. RIGHT?

 

[IndianaJonny]

*snip*

Is this all, perchance, a sneaky way of drawing out people's upcoming Eurovison expectations?

Yeah I'm afraid it's hands down to Blighty. I say that not because I'm British, I have general apathy towards my nationality, but just because a good 90% of the music I love wouldn't exist if it weren't for that whole British Invasion/ rock n' roll thing they had going some 40 years ago.

Hmm, Radio 4 are currently doing a series of radio-plays based around the 'punk generation' [//www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b010k2fj] if you're interested. (though that might be too recent for your tastes)

 

[OutforEC]

As a frequent-flyer during my past career, I've visited a lot of different places and have fallen in love with the music in most of them. However, I think I'd have to go with the UK overall; The Beatles and Rolling Stones, Queen, David Bowie, Roxie Music; Siouxie, Joy Division and Bauhaus, Depeche Mode and New Order; Massive Attack, Prodigy, Portishead; Muse and My Bloody Valentine, Sonic Youth.

And of course, Ric Astley.

 

[eternal-chaplain]

The Netherlands. We own the electronic dance music scene worldwide.

I dunno bout that, Germany kind of dominates techno/dance for me.

 

[StrappingYoungLad]

Sweeden
Finland












Everything Else

 

[Atticus89]

Antarctica: they have never produced a single bad band.

In all seriousness, I just like what sounds good. I suppose if I looked at my mp3 player, I have a bias to Japanese and American rock with an unhealthy layer of video game soundtracks.

 

[Vokiar]

Finland.

 

[MiracleOfSound]

I might add BellX1, The Frames as well Miracle of Sound to that

.

Fun fact... I did a gig in Cork with Bell X1 in my old band. Nice lads!

Also met Hansard and Frames a few times, but so did everyone in the country.

haha! Yeah.. they do get around...

I am so starstruck right now...

There's so many out there that don't get as much exposure as they should (something you're probably all too familiar with) but I have to shout out to my fave local band Fred.
It's half because of their awesome music, half because of the sense of humour they have.

Um... that must mean you're from Cork... lol... my ex is in Fred

Small world...

 

[paiged]

I'm going to say the UK.

And definitely not Canada. I wish they'd take back Bieber, Avril, and Nickelback.
....I'll keep Rush though. =P

 

[Communist partisan]

England, nuff said.

 

[Z(ombie)fan]

Russia!

...

I don't know, all of them I guess.

[sub]but seriously, russian singing- strangely awesome.[/sub]

 

[Boba Frag]

I might add BellX1, The Frames as well Miracle of Sound to that

.

Fun fact... I did a gig in Cork with Bell X1 in my old band. Nice lads!

Also met Hansard and Frames a few times, but so did everyone in the country.

haha! Yeah.. they do get around...

I am so starstruck right now...

There's so many out there that don't get as much exposure as they should (something you're probably all too familiar with) but I have to shout out to my fave local band Fred.
It's half because of their awesome music, half because of the sense of humour they have.

Um... that must mean you're from Cork... lol... my ex is in Fred

Small world...

I sure am! In fact, it was via one of the lads I work with in the cinema in Mahon point that I heard about your stuff!

Small world, indeed.
Well, that or small Cork!

 

[brunothepig]

Props to England for starting it out with Judas Priest, Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden you know. But my vote has to go to the trio of Finland, Sweden and Norway. If I had to choose one I'd say Finland, but honestly that's only cause the first metal band I really listened to was Children Of Bodom, who are from Finland. All three gave us brilliant bands.

 

[Sangreal Gothcraft]

Finland, Enough Said.

 

[thekgbtreason]

Okay, this a long shot but lately iv been hearing a lot of good Russian music. Yes they have the cliched and tasteless pop songs which sound like something by Aqua however some of those pop songs have quite a decent rhythm. There are also some very good metals bands for people with a taste for that genre. Not forgetting of course some of our blues and rock singers. Im not saying Russian music is the best, but it certainly can contend as being very good as the some of the songs are so well played that you dont have to understand the langauge to enjoy the song.