Usually I'd have to say I prefer the sloppy Libertines style pub rock (Yes, people who hate Up The Bracket are Un-American!). Straight ahead American rock 'n roll sometimes conjures up images of Social Distortion or Bob Segar to me. Meh. But I've lately been blessed with two outstanding US garage rock bands, Chicago's Ponys and Minneapolis' Hold Steady. Is there some technical definition separating the two genre phrases, or is it purely determined by happenstance of birth?

Irregardless, it's gotta be as difficult to master these styles as it is for art rock bands to be "original". Know what I mean? It's been done ten thousand times, mostly bad, and so how does one go about putting one's own stamp on such a rehashed sound? "Oh, sounds like the Stooges after a bad hangover."

I really have no idea where I'm going with this thread, sometimes I just can't stop typing. :-) At some point, however, I'm gonna say something like Top 5 Sloppy Rock 'n Roll Albums! Or something like that. I almost wish Kristy were here cos she might be able to add something to the conversation. Y'know, after she said how much Johnny Borrell is a liar and a cheat and a thief. Erm OK, a curry munching limey liar...cheat...and thief, right. But then that might not have met with much DiSflavor, erm, DiSfavor. Whatever. I'll shut up, now.

Best Straight-Up Jukebox Rock!