Well, I think you guys are going about this whole definition thing the wrong way. You can define what a particular piece of music ISN'T alot easier sometimes than you can define what it "is". Some Examples would be Metamorphosis (Sting Quartet Tribute to Tool), isn't "classical" although it may sound as such, it's a classical cover of a band that (imho) defies offhand classification. Just as Garth Brooks is definately NOT classic rock, nor is he anywhere near Jonny Cash's brand of country. The Supremes are considered R&B/Pop, but they far out gun modern attempts at their success. Barry White couldn't be considered R&B anymore by the modern definition either.
As you try to define bands that progressivly push limits the only thing you end up doing is restricting them, something a >REAL< artist fights against. So, if you are going to try to define Indie as anything not on a Major Record Label, what about the Beetles? yes they are released by a major label now, but when they were still writing and performing they were under an almost defunct label, does that make them Indie as well? Again, ask yourself why do you want to define your musical taste? or confine it to one genre? Is it because it makes you feel better than other people? Or because of an Ideology? Eitherway, that's a sad reason, I'll have to agree with tommy on this one, fuck genres listen to good music that can be described as "talented" and "original". even major labels manage to some times fuck up and sign real talent every now and then. I myself I have such a wide rang of musical taste it's dizzying to most other people. I can play one track from an Incubus album, another from SOAD, then another from RATM, and then finish it off with O Fortuna, and not feel odd, strange or even confused. I listen to things that are talented and more than their face value suggests.
Defining your music does only one thing as far as I'm concerned, it locks you into one convention of thought. The truely talented musician/artists takes what's out there lets it carry them then makes something of their own. Just like you can hear the influence of Bach in Tool, you can hear influence from THOUSANDS of other sources there too. Same with Modest Mouse, it's obvious they took some cues from Bob Dylan, and Willie Nelson, does that make them folk/country? or something different? So to conclude my random ramble, don't limit yourself by trying to find a single definition to the music you listen to, It will only hurt you in the long run. The more different music you listen to the more you come to realize that EVERYONE is influenced by things outside their Genre (save for Bubble Gum Pop maybe I fucking hate that shit). and GOOD music will show some influence by people like Mozart, Beethovan, Bach, and Delta Blues.
