There is a big difference between Pixies/Lush/Garbage/Nirvana and the fake alt bands like veruca salt/liz phair/bush/everclear and so many others. The first group comprises outsider kids and alt rock culture. The second group is made up of good looking kids who were jocks and cheerleaders and popular kids who jumped on the alt rock bandwagon after Nirvana turned the music business upside down.
That and the obvious difference in the quality and quantity of the music. The bandwagon jumping bands were seldom good for more than one or two good songs at best.

BTW: what's the deal with Frank Black? Asshole? I hope it's not only based on him breaking up Pixies.