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jude111 
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 Topic: Grunge or Britpop
Posted: April 07 2014 at 21:52 |
Both emerged in the early 90's, both were "retro"; one was British, one was American (except Bush, whom I think the UK was happy to be rid of). American grunge tended to focus on things like suicide (e.g. Soundgarden's "Like Suicide"), death (Alice in Chains: "I want you to kill me"), heroin addiction and depression. While Cobain sang, "Rape me," Oasis was sending out positive vibes such as, "You and I we're going to live forever," and Britpop was more optimistic ("Here they come the beautiful ones"), and (working) class conscious (e.g. Common People, Parklife, If You Tolerate This).
Key American grunge bands: Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Alice in Chains, Hole, Stone Temple Pilots, Mudhoney, Melvins, Green River.
Key Britpop bands: Oasis, Blur, Pulp, Suede, Manic Street Preachers, Elastica, the Boo Radleys, Supergrass, Super Furry Animals, the Verve.
And on the periphery of grunge, Smashing Pumpkins (I consider them grunge, even though they were from Chicago rather then Seattle); on the periphery of Britpop, Radiohead (I consider their first 2 albums to be Britpop albums).
Which do you prefer, and let us know where you're from. (I'm interested if Americans prefer Britpop, or if Brits prefer grunge, and what everyone else from other places prefer.)
For me, it's no contest: Britpop. (BTW, I'm American.)
Edited by jude111 - April 07 2014 at 22:17
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Horizons
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Posted: April 07 2014 at 21:56 |
"Grunge" bands were fantastic - Pearl Jam's early years are nearly unbeatable.
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Crushed like a rose in the riverflow.
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Icarium
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Posted: April 08 2014 at 02:58 |
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Like Suicide is not about suicide, Fell on Black Days is about suicide.
Like Suicide is about Chris Cornell experiating a bird crashing into his window an couldnt survive 18year old Cornelll panicked grabbed the bird and a brick and killed the bird , he wouldmt let the bird die a slow and painfull death so he mercy killed it.
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Toaster Mantis
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Posted: April 08 2014 at 03:11 |
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The one that has The Melvins and Soundgarden among its ranks. Those two bands show a much higher level of ambition through their discography than I've ever heard from a Britpop group.
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"The past is not some static being, it is not a previous present, nor a present that has passed away; the past has its own dynamic being which is constantly renewed and renewing." - Claire Colebrook
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Aussie-Byrd-Brother
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Posted: April 08 2014 at 03:34 |
Britpop, a million times over!  In addition to all those British bands mentioned, others such as Kula Shaker, Mansun, and maybe a bit later The Coral put out terrific albums, that also frequently displayed a subtlety usually missing in the American bands. The early Verve singles and their debut `A Storm In Heaven' are in a league of their own too. Oasis wasn't reinventing the wheel, but they sure knew their way around some memorable melodies. Stuff like Nirvana...liked it when I was younger, but even just walking into a msuic shop a few months ago that had Nirvana blaring made me cringe. Not bad, but nothing to interest me at all these days. So Nirvana thankfully brought attention back to guitar driven music, but Cobain sure as hell wasn't some damn tortured genius kids make him out to be! 
Edited by Aussie-Byrd-Brother - April 08 2014 at 03:38
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Icarium
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Posted: April 08 2014 at 03:52 |
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....thers more to grunge then Nirvana.....
.....you does not have to go through the path that is Nirvana, and then gauge all other grunge band = Nirvana....
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Aussie-Byrd-Brother
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Posted: April 08 2014 at 03:58 |
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Oh, wasn't dismissing Grunge as purely Nirvana, Aginor, and I sure didn't mean that Grunge was bad! It's just that the British bands spoke much more to me and were often more sophisticated and adventurous (well, not Oasis lol!).
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Icarium
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Posted: April 08 2014 at 05:16 |
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i recomend you check Skin Yard and Tad
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dr wu23
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Posted: April 08 2014 at 09:50 |
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Love the Brit pop over the years...only liked a handful of Grunge songs.
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One does nothing yet nothing is left undone.
Haquin
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Icarium
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Posted: April 08 2014 at 10:03 |
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Wassentt Brit poo a reaction to grunge ?
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rogerthat
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Posted: April 08 2014 at 10:04 |
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Grunge, but only because of Alice in Chains. I do like some of Nirvana and Soundgarden's albums but as such I am not a huge fan of grunge and some of it can be very boring.
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Icarium
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Posted: April 08 2014 at 10:08 |
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Wassentt Brit pop a reaction to grunge ?
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The T
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Posted: April 08 2014 at 10:12 |
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Grunge by about 23497869 miles.
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jude111
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Posted: April 08 2014 at 10:16 |
Just came across this blog article, "Grunge vs. Britpop." Interesting how the writer breaks it down to categories, judging the two genres by different criteria. In the end, he gives the nod to Britpop:
Edited by jude111 - April 08 2014 at 10:19
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rogerthat
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Posted: April 08 2014 at 10:24 |
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Interesting article. One thing I found even more interesting was the quality of vocals/musicianship wasn't even a criterion. Which from my point of view is an important deal breaker in this poll. I mean, Layne Staley, Jerry Cantrell, Kim Thayil, Chris Cornell, Matt Chamberlain...and even Cobain came up with some nice riffs. In more complex music, I consider the composition itself the most important aspect to deciding whether I like a track or not. But if I have to listen to very straight up music at all, it better be with awesome vocals or awesome guitar/drums etc.
Edited by rogerthat - April 08 2014 at 10:24
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Blacksword
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Posted: April 08 2014 at 11:53 |
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A little bit of both, and I mean a little bit...
Best grunge band maybe Soundgarden, closely followed by Pearl Jam. Never liked Alice IC, Mudhoney or Nirvana. Not heard the others.
Britpop: Pulp and Blur had their moments as did the Boo Radleys in their early days. Never regarded Manic Street Preachers as Britpop. I took them to be a rock band..of types. Love some of their stuff.
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Logan
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Posted: April 08 2014 at 12:09 |
 aginor wrote:
Wassentt Brit poo a reaction to grunge ? |
It doesn't get much more grungy than Brit poo in my opinion.
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Just a fanboy passin' through.
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Guldbamsen
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Posted: April 08 2014 at 12:28 |
I'd never consider Pearl Jam a grunge band. They were/are a rock n roll band who just so happened to have a dude singing from way back in his throat - just like most of the grunge bands had. The guitars and rhythm section were taken straight out of the 70s if you ask me. Anyway, I dig a few bands from both sides of the fence: Supergrass, Blur (13 is a wonderful album!) and The Verve. Alice in Chains and Melvins. Like I said, I don't hear Pearl Jam as a grunge band and that goes for Soundgarden as well. Both are pretty good bands, although it's been a while since I last listened to either. No vote I guess  |
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“The Guide says there is an art to flying or rather a knack. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.”
- Douglas Adams
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Toaster Mantis
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Posted: April 08 2014 at 12:32 |
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Surprised to see people mention Kula Shaker and The Verve as Britpop, never heard either group categorized that way until now.
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"The past is not some static being, it is not a previous present, nor a present that has passed away; the past has its own dynamic being which is constantly renewed and renewing." - Claire Colebrook
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Blacksword
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Posted: April 08 2014 at 13:20 |
Toaster Mantis wrote:
Surprised to see people mention Kula Shaker and The Verve as Britpop, never heard either group categorized that way until now. |
Indeed. Kula Shaker are a rock band.
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Ultimately bored by endless ecstasy!
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Grunge or Britpop
