I may be misinterpreting the definition of "classic" on this topic, but from my schooling I know it as "for the ages." I'm going from there...
Why is it important whether or not an independent band with one record out could / should be considered classic? Granted, that's a fraction of the scope you're dealing with, but defining the grey areas seems to take up a lot of the debate.
Isn't there something to be said for living in the moment? I don't think the Interpol record falls into either category, for instance, but I still listen to it a great deal. I'd say the vast majority of what I listen to doesn't fall into either category, while some of the stuff I absolutely loathe (Creed, for instance) will surely still be played ten years down the road, because the populous (keep in mind the difference between that and the smarmy rock critic extrapolating the populous' future ideals).
― Sebastian S. Stirling, Tuesday, 10 September 2002 18:49 (twenty-three years ago)