We here at tableau love America, but we're going to just come out and say it: the British rule. We're not just saying this because we've just returned to the Motherland from a few glorious weeks in the heart of the U.K. or because we have a certain affinity for fish and chips. The British have a well-earned monopoly on all things rock.
Sure, America has Elvis, CCR and Britney Spears. But all music, everywhere, has a tint of the influence of Great Britain's music scene. Let's just put aside that teeny band that introduced Americans to pop-rock (what was its name again? Oh yeah ... The Beatles). Let's forget that whole era called "The British Revival." The best thing to touch our shores since the Pilgrims migrated across the sea oh-so-long ago has been British rock, pop-rock, punk-rock, post-punk, shoegaze ...
You might as well call this week's issue "The British Revival, part 3." We have three British imports that all re-affirm the U.K.'s necessity to modern culture. Our new favorite film is the British release, Bright Star, focusing on that favorite dramatic convention: the star-crossed lovers. Pop over to iTunes and check out recent overseas invaders La Roux and Zero 7 - both are decidedly kick-ass in bringing their U.K. sensibility and sound to our ears.
Again, don't take us wrong: we are pure-blooded supporters of American creations - why else would Americana/folk-rock/indie-folk/bluegrass music be so popular these days? But let's take a look at those indispensable bands, without whom the globe would be decades behind in our musical prowess: The Smiths, Joy Division, The Cure, The Kinks, Sex Pistols, The xx, Genesis, Jethro Tull, Iron Maiden, Muse, the Scottish Franz Ferdinand, Keane ... need we say more?
- stephanie garcia
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