can you help me define the following genres without just naming bands that fall under them? No flaming as well, please.

Alternative Rock

Indie Rock

Pop-Punk

Mainstream Rock

thanks...

hmm interesting request

here's my attempt hehehe

alt. rock - this is generally defined as beginning in 80s underground rock and gaining popularity in the early 90s. initally there were a lot of styles being melded together but once it gained enough popularity to dominate the airwaves for a short time it became pretty bland and ended up being any guitar based song that used soft / quiet dynamics for the verse and chorus and/or non-standard tunings.

indie rock - by definition indie rock should be anything produced independently, although from my experience indie rock is a lot closer to lo-fi whiny guitar rock. maybe mix in some 'retro' sounding electronics too.

pop-punk - upbeat pop music played on guitar

mainstream rock - clichéd by the numbers rock. about as shocking/innovative as discovering the fact water is actually wet.

yikes, these give me trouble. i still dont know what the fuck post-rock or any of that shit means either.

anyhow
Alt Rock - i think that alt rock is like all the cool bands circa 1984, starting in earnest with burma and gang of four, and i'd say the cut off point is the lollapalooza with pavement, after which its something else.
Indie Rock - snotty, dickless pretentious white assholes. lots of wacky guitar tunings, cheap production, meaningful/meaningless lyrics, etc. like an eccentric cousin to punk and art rock. I'd say that 'indie' as a cohesive movement probably stretches from 1980 to the present.

Pop-Punk - from johnny ramone until the coer of smooth criminal, pop punk has travelled a narrow but fruitful path. Anything that puts the powerchord butchery of punk together with the time tested conventions of pop songcraft, althou make sure no to mix up other shitty ass stuff like blink 182 in there with the good 'real poppunk' stuff

Mainstream Rock - this is a toughy. i think that there is this special point when a band, because they are established as hitmakers, can put out utter shit and still get it to sell ok. when a band can do that, they are mainstream. Thats how i would put it anyway.

To add to my list then...

Post Rock
and
Art Rock

alternitive rock is realy the name for what happened after the hair metal thing and things mellowed down a notch

indie rock more or less refered to any thing that is lo fi in my opinion anything that lou reed influenced

mainstream rock the things that are played on the radio thats " good for te whole family"

pop rock is britney spears in a black t shirt

art rock is rockand roll that is exotic in any sort of way, generaly dress up in cool costumes and leave you feeling kinda confused but you wanna listen to it again

and post rock is basicaly another word for alternitave

listen camelojo or whatever your name is dont ever shoot down an entier genra like you did about indie rock Pretentious white assholes?????? in any genra there is potential to be e good music

what is your deal man

Major Tom hasn't posted in 18 months....so, don't be expecting a response anytime soon.