The difference, by ear
New wave is what art rock's ideas sounded like once a generation raised on punk got hold of them: shorter, cheaper and far more commercially successful.
Both are sung cleanly, but new wave is a little faster: 120 to 160 bpm against 80 to 130. To hear the difference, play The Velvet Underground next to Talking Heads. They share a root in rock, and art rock came first, by twelve years. United Kingdom appears in the origins of both.
In figures
Art rock
Where it sits
In short
Rock made by art-school graduates: concept, image and experiment ahead of formula. It overlaps with prog but cares far less about virtuosity.
How it sounds
- Concept and image treated as part of the music rather than as packaging.
- Borrowings from the avant-garde, electronic music, theatre and visual art.
- Unconventional structures, without prog's obligation to virtuosity.
Key acts
- The Velvet Underground
- Roxy Music
- Talking Heads
- Radiohead
Start here
The pickTalking Heads - Remain in Light. African funk, synthesizers and existential panic.
Full page →New wave
Where it sits
Rock › Punk rock › Post-punk › New wave
In short
Post-punk's commercial face: synthesizers, hooks and jerky rhythms. Punk without the rage, but with the same ideas.
How it sounds
- Polyphonic synthesizers and drum machines alongside rock instruments.
- Jerky, staccato rhythms, often with funk or reggae influence.
- Clean production, radio-ready choruses and strong visuals for MTV.
Key acts
- Talking Heads
- Blondie
- The Cars
- Devo
Start here
The pickBlondie - Parallel Lines. Perfect pop with a CBGB past.
Full page →