How confusing is this! There are two bands called The Horrors. One is from America and plays awesome rockabilly mangled songs and the other is a UK rockabilly freak show.

The Horrors (US)

The first band called The Horrors are Paul Cary – vocals & guitar, Andrew Joseph Caffrey – guitar and Jamie Mclees – drums from Ceder Rapids, Iowa. They are no longer playing together. Their EP Vent is Indie Gold!!!! When I found it, i fell in love with each twisted and demented turn. My favorite being "Briar Patch" followed closely by "Dragger's Rant." The album is a salute to dirty America in an "American Graffiti" goes goth sort of way.

The second band called The Horrors claim to have the same influences with deep roots set in mid-century blues, traditional rock and roll, and obscure 60s garage rock. They are Faris Badwan - vocals, Tomethy Furse - bass, Joshua Von grimm - guitar, Coffin Joe - drums, and Spider Webb - keys. Yet their sound is much more thrown together and spontaneous. They throw a punk punch while the other hits a switch blade. With songs like "Sheena is a Parasite" and "Count in Fives" they are quickly becoming scenester album Gold.

Faris Rotter, frontman of UK's The Horrors

The American Horrors came first and I feel, did it best. Their theme was simple: 1950s Horror movies metamorphisized into songs that make you want to throw on a pair of 3D glasses while kicking and spitting.

Vent EP by The Horrors (US)

The British Horrors came second and their sound isn't together yet. I am judging rather harshly. Afterall, American Horrors have been around for years and the British Horrors don't even have an album out yet.

Tomethy Furse and Faris Rotter of The Horrors (UK)

The American Horrors had a unique look. Most of their press photos were them wearing red swirling hypnotizing sun glasses or 3D cardboard frames. It called too a better more simpler time.

The British Horrors are known for their looks. In fact, their image is their thing. Guitarist Joshua Von Grimm has been featured on the cover of Italian Vogue and the band are awefully pretty in a turn-of-the-century-dandy sort of way. Hell, they don't even have an album out and they have a shoe deal with Vandini! Their trade mark is their hair. Joshua's foot tall triumph over gravity and hairspray has gotten them a lot of attention...mostly from girls. hell, I'll admit it, I like it. Their music comes second to the package.

Joshua Von Grimm on the cover of Italian Vogue

The American Horrors are part of a small undercurrent of rockabilly revivalists, a movement that always appears to be on its last leg.

The British Horrors are ushering in the Nu Goth movement that is grabbing hold in London and looking to replace the Emo fad over the next year or two.

So who wins? Well, in Wikiality, the British Horrors win. Why? Because thy got to Wikipedia first! Look "The Horrors" up and you'll find a ridiculously lengthy definition of the British band with nothing of the American band mentioned. They also hold the top Google search spots with their official site and their myspace. So as far as the cyberworld is concerned British Horrors have one their title. As for me, I like both. Musically I prefer the American Horrors. I mean, how can you beat lyrics like "My mother acted like an angel/ my father act like a demon/ in 1977 I came out screamin"??? Very ballsy. But I like them being the lesser known Horrors. that way I can have them all to myself. then again, let's face it, I am a woman and the other Horrors are damn hot.

Joshua Von Grimm, Faris Rotter, and Tomethy Furse of The Horrors(UK)

The current Horrors (UK) have been largely successful due to making the cover of NME (New Musical Express) before even releasing an EP. It was unprecedented for NME to have no-name bands on the cover. Since then they have established a fanzine and a cult following. They are on tour with NME's Shockwave Indie Rock Tour for the next two months. Their first album Strange House is due out the first week of March and they have just shot the video for their next single "Gloves."

Well, here, check out both and you can decide for yourself who you like better:

The Horrors (US)
Listen:
http://www.rhapsody.com/thehorrors/vent

The Horrors(US) second LP

The Horrors (UK)
Listen:
http://www.myspace.com/thehorrors

Watch:
Sheena is a Parasite Music Video