most relevant british bands/musicians
 

can you compile a small list out of your personal taste? thanks.

What do you mean by british, and what do you mean by relevant?

i mean what they mean. check a dictionary.

Elvis Fucking Presley

...was a lame turd.

crass (and some other bands that were on their label) were the only relevant british punk band. even though i like discharge too.

radiohead is my favorite british band of the last 13 or so years. so them, i guess.

man...would you like something more extensive?

Joy Division
The Cure
The Smiths
Cocteau Twins
Kitchens of Distinction
Hood
Roxy Music
Bowie
Nick Drake
Talk Talk
Tindersticks
Radiohead

wire i guess too

The Smiths
Public Image Ltd
Sex Pistols
The Cure
The Clash
The Jesus & Mary Chain
Echo & the Bunnymen
My Bloody Valentine

Every band I start to list has either done something rather disgraceful at a later date (like the Beatles playing behind that dismal Lennon demo "Real Love" and calling it a new song, or the last few decades of the Rolling Stones, or Echo and the Bunnymen since 1986 on) or just been a shadow of themselves for so long that any question of relevance is shot (Motorhead, The Jesus & Mary Chain).

A couple have come back from their transgressions (Gang of Four, Wire) but I still don't feel comfortable with listing them as exceptionally relevant even though I'd go see them in a heartbeat.

One Brit band that is coming to mind who broke up before they ever sucked and who's reunion seems rather credible is Throbbing Gristle. So, I guess they're on my list. And I suppose My Bloody Valentine if the constant threat of reunions is overlooked (or if by some miracle it happens and they are surprisingly good). And I have yet to not love any records by Autechre.

So, I'm looking at a standpoint of conintued relevance. If I were to list historical relevance, the list would be so long as to be ridiculous.

I can think of a handful of American groups that meet that continued relevance criteria (Mission of Burma, Rocket from the Tombs...), and Sonic Youth who pulled it off without even breaking up.

Are we talking historically relevant, or currently? Hang on, that's a dumb question, isn't it? If you used to be good, but aren't any more, then you're not relevant...

So do you mean "recommend me some current good British bands"?

Assuming you do, I'll start the ball rolling with:

Rameses III
65daysofstatic

Syd Barrett era Pink Floyd.

Radiohead and Blur. But if you're including electronica then:
µ-Ziq
Aphex Twin
Squarepusher
Autechre
Chemical Brothers
Fatboy Slim
The Prodigy

Sorry, man, but those last three haven't been relevant for a very very very long time.

Hmm...true. None of them have had great albums as of recent, but their old albums are great.

The Beatles

Love em or hate em, they have been very relevant for a long time.

Sorry, mate, but I think you were meaning to post that on the Paul Weller messageboard.

However I speak relatively as all British music is irrelevant. :p

THE JAM! i forgot them. pulp too.

i guess most of the british post punk bands are relevant. i don't know though and i don't really care.