davidpye wrote:But you're whole thread is about why the bands in this country aren't as good as US bands.

No.

It's about musical competence which has little or nothing to do with artistic merit.

I do feel that I was pretty clear about that.

Yes you were, but can't you see the two are linked?

If someone feels inspired to do something new, they will also feel oblidged to represent it well. If they don't it could just be a mess.

davidpye wrote:Yes you were, but can't you see the two are linked?

I don't believe that the two are particularly linked; compare the genius Jesus and Mary Chain to the horror of Steve Vai, or the Seminal Sonic Youth with Bon Jovi.

If someone feels inspired to do something new, they will also feel oblidged to represent it well. If they don't it could just be a mess.

I don't really understand your second point; you don't need a record deal to play gigs or release records. In the age of the interent you don't even need to release records...

Yes you're right, but you proved the other side of my points. Which are not the points I was getting at.

I say, lets agree to disagree. No love lost hey rabbit?

davidpye wrote:Yes you're right, but you proved the other side of my points. Which are not the points I was getting at.

I say, lets agree to disagree. No love lost hey rabbit?

So you're saying that I'm right and you are wrong?

Cool!

It's all down to the awfulness of American beer and the fact that they're not allowed to experience it's atrociousness until they're 21. Which means they have to find something to do in their teenage years other than getting pissed.

Isn't eight hours a week practicing kind of excessive? I mean, unless you play prog or jazz. Or are a hair metal band complete with oodles of noodling.

And what about all those horror stories we hear from American engineers on various forums about (US) bands who can barely play as individuals; never mind as a group? That doesn't exactly speak to me of greater competence on the part of the yanks

Mark wrote:It's all down to the awfulness of American beer and the fact that they're not allowed to experience it's atrociousness until they're 21. Which means they have to find something to do in their teenage years other than getting pissed.

You sir, have clearly never been a teenager in this fine country. There is plenty of stuff to do, and plenty of stuff to drink while doing it, in the years before one turns 21. Perhaps this is where other countries fall short on the rock scale?

What makes you think I've ever been a teenager?

No, but seriously, if the average American band really does spend eight bleeding hours a week rehearsing then they can't have a hell of a lot else going on in their lives.