The Smiths were pretty much the definitive indie band. I never heard the term mope rock, although overcoat rock is a similar idea - it means bands like Joy Division, Echo and the Bunnymen, the Cure, etc.

Joy Division weren't Goth. Joy Division were, and I say this with the deepest love for Bauhaus, Siouxsie, Eldritch etc, grown up. Goth always had a panto element - Joy Division were the real thing.

overcoat rock

Never heard of it. Sorry to say it makes me think of Aqualung. Sitting on a park bench... -- Signed, Scarred by My AOR-youth

overcoat rock

Never heard it either. I may have heard anorak rock for that genre, though, or I may just be getting all the British slang I know jumbled up again.

Jilli, I have categories like "Twee" and "Grrrl Punk."

I played The Gun Club, "The Stranger in our Town", this morning, and, probably because of this thread, was struck by how goth the song sounds.

I am, officially, all out of commas.

I am, officially, all out of commas.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, You can have these on semi-permanent loan. Don't worry, I don't anticipate asking for them back anytime soon.

lyra - anorak pop is different, it's the same as indiepop or tweepop - Sarah records, El records, Wiiija records, early Creation

one reason I love music shopping online now, you don't need to know categories and what independent stores carry what. Much easier for me who doesn't know much about non-mainstream stuff.

So in England, there are two separate musical genres named after outerwear?

This is something I did not know.

A review in the Boston Globe today describes Lou Barlow as "the godfather of emo". Knowing that he would be completely horrified to hear himself described that way, I forwarded the link to him. I'll let you know if he responds with anything quotable.

It seems to me that no one who's described as "emo" agrees with that description.