This has always bothered me. I guess I'm from the Billy Joel school of thought - "It's still rock 'n roll to me." I don't understand why the "alternative" label gets attached to bands. To me, R.E.M. has always been a rock band. Radiohead - rock. Muse - rock. Beck - rock. The Hold Steady, My Morning Jacket, Wilco - rock, rock, and rock. But, iTunes, the Grammys, etc. tell me that these are "alternative" acts.

I've always thought of the tag as being derogatory. You're not a real rock band - you're "alternative."

It annoys me to have to change the tags on my albums so that they are considered "rock" and not "alternative."

Is it only me, or is anyone else annoyed by this?