You raise some interesting stats there. But of course your journalism is let down by the sweeping statement that Americans don't like quality music.

Given the obvious facts that middle America don't buy alternative music, I think we should share a thought for the hundreds of thousands of Americans who listen to 'indie' music when it's far less supported there than in the UK.

As an Englishman who enjoys trips to the US for pleasure, especially my little ol' Atlanta, I can tell you the decent and hip Stateside not only have very good musical taste but - more importantly - do cringe at the statistics that state that as a nation they all listen to Byonce.

Or however you spell it... We have to forget record sales and remember that the American Morrissey fans are devoted and fanatical, sometimes to extreems, and it's not their fault the rest of the nation has more conservative tastes.

America is a wondeful place and the Europeans that say otherwise are generally too scared to fly anywhere further than Ibiza and if they claim to have breached the gap will have only been to Florida. Which is where you'll find the most common species of British, gawping at blue sky and thundering down water shoots.

It's also worth remembering that Amercan Morrissey fans have had enough political grief this month without extra slagging from an internet site they visit.

We're all fans of a one-time lanky Manc who by some great fortune escaped a life on the dole to be a pop icon. And yet the Anti-This and Anti-That nationalistic nonsence persists.

Wouldn't you rather discuss your favourite sleeve design from 1988 - 1997? Now THAT'S what this site is here for. Mine's Sing Your Life followed by Hold Onto Your Friends.