Isn't indie (rock, pop, whatever) just one of the many branches of alternative rock?

lol no indie is not a sound. Things like mtv and even pitchforkmedia put that name out there as any band thats rock and not horribly mainstream...even though some of them are such as death cab or bright eyes.

thats why indie isnt a genre, its alternative, but not produced alternative

Wha, I thought Bright Eyes was indie? Or is Saddle Creek a major label now?

Anyway, technically indie is a genre because a genre is a group linked together by whatever that connects them. Most things are genres, deal.

Plus someone could like independent rock you know.

Indie might not be a genre but indie rock or indie pop certainly are.

Arguing otherwise is useless, if they're used as genre labels they are genre labels.

thank you.

precisely.

I forgot bright eyes was still on saddle creek haha.

indie isn't a genre of music. It's not a specific sound. It's far far far too vague.

Punk all the way!!!

And the only thing that does connect them is being on a small label... Hence, nearly every band in existence started out as Indie.