# Best UK bands that never 'broke' America

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-uk-bands-that-never-broke-america/810788>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [March 18, 2018, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-uk-bands-that-never-broke-america/810788 "2018-03-18T17:24:14Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 9

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**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\
**Post date:** [April 1, 2018, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-uk-bands-that-never-broke-america/810788/161 "2018-04-01T00:10:09Z")

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> [@Baron\_Greenback](#):
>
> From the same show Youtube suggests something truly horrific. Please don’t watch Kasabian covering Cypress Hill’s Insane in the Brain.
> 
> [https://youtu.be/5nQoBAKZy9Q?t=1m15s](https://youtu.be/5nQoBAKZy9Q?t=1m15s)
> 
> Dear. God.

I have actually de-evolved after watching this. My closest living relative is now some kind of mollusc. I am typing with a tendril rn heeeeelp…

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**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\
**Post date:** [April 1, 2018, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-uk-bands-that-never-broke-america/810788/162 "2018-04-01T02:23:47Z")

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Many British bands became briefly popular in Canada among alternative and college radio listeners. In fact, many bands toured Canada where I suspect they were better known than the US. Some of the trip hop stuff was also popular.

Portishead, Tricky, Prodigy and The Chemical Brothers were somewhat popular at cafes and clubs. Suede, Inspiral Carpets, Cast, Charlatans UK were well liked by me and my friends. I saw Billy Bragg in concert but it isn’t really my favourite. Black Grape was better, and I made out with the singer from Echobelly after buying her a drink. Those of us who liked house enjoyed The Stone Roses, I had friends who would buy NME and their annual compilations from 1991 to 1996 summarize this era nicely. I had roommates into Madness. Sadly, few of these bands are well known in Canada now, and likely less so in the US.

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**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\
**Post date:** [April 1, 2018, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-uk-bands-that-never-broke-america/810788/163 "2018-04-01T02:30:47Z")

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My friends and I were also into the Housemartins, The Beautiful South, DJ Carl Cox, Elastica, Matthew Sweet and Jesus and Mary Chain. There are a whole bunch more that are eluding me at the moment, but some were one-hit wonders.

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**Author:** ![jaycat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat/32/3015_2.png) [@jaycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaycat)\
**Post date:** [April 1, 2018, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-uk-bands-that-never-broke-america/810788/164 "2018-04-01T03:18:34Z")

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> [@Dr\_Paprika](#):
>
> My friends and I were also into the Housemartins, The Beautiful South, DJ Carl Cox, Elastica, Matthew Sweet and Jesus and Mary Chain. There are a whole bunch more that are eluding me at the moment, but some were one-hit wonders.

You reminded me that I saw The Beautiful South live (in Boston). They were a strident lot, but had good harmonies.

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