This thread is inspired by me seeing Hookworms the other day.

I knew they were from Leeds, but hadn't heard any music by them before. I really enjoyed them and bought the record, but I couldn't help feeling, very unfairly (and based on no real logic), that they would have been so much 'better' or 'cooler' if they'd been from, say, California. They have a sound which would suit them better if they were American I think. The fact are from Leeds (or England at least) very mildly irked me.

Similarly, I'll generally give a band I haven't heard before more time if I know they're the USA or Japan or somewhere 'exotic' like that.

There's no real reasoning to this - the feelings aren't logical or reasoned in any way - it's more a gut reaction.

Maybe it's because i'm likely to have had similar experiences to UK-based bands, whereas more international bands are likely to have had different experiences and influences and this will lead to music i'm less used to hearing and is therefore more exciting.

I don't know. It's clearly ridiculous, but I always think it when I hear a UK-band that produces a type of music I strongly relate to another part of the world in my head.

Hmm, interesting...