Art
rock and progressive rock incorporates elements of European and classical music
to rock & roll music, resulting in long, complex instrumental passages and dramatic,
grandiose flourishes. Though the movement was sparked by the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper,
art rock bands tend to write compositions, not songs; instrumental prowess is
also emphasized. Primarily, art rock and progressive rock are album oriented,
not single oriented. The album format gives the bands freedom to experiment
musically and expand their ideas over the course of an album side. Another tendency
of art rock bands is to tell stories -- frequently, their albums are structured
as rock operas. The difference between art rock and prog rock is slight, but
important. Art rock bands tend to draw more heavily on classical influences
and show a tendency toward medieval and mystical lyrical imagery. Prog rockers
do have some classical elements to their music, but they also have more of an
overt jazz and psychedelic influences -- and have a greater tendency to improvise.
Art-Progressive
Rock
