The difference, by ear
Prog demonstrates difficulty - long forms, odd metres, virtuosity as the subject. Art rock hides its difficulty inside things that are frequently three minutes long and sound like pop.
Both are sung cleanly, but progressive rock swings further either way: 60 to 180 bpm against 80 to 130. Songs run longer in progressive rock: usually 6 to 20 minutes, against 3 to 7 minutes in art rock. To hear the difference, play The Velvet Underground next to King Crimson. Both grew out of rock, art rock first and progressive rock two years after. 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 →Progressive rock
Where it sits
In short
Rock with classical ambitions: odd meters, twenty-minute suites, mellotron. The direct foundation of progressive metal.
How it sounds
- Odd meters - 7/8, 5/4, 13/8 - used routinely rather than as an effect.
- Mellotron, Hammond organ, Moog and later polyphonic synthesizers.
- Long suites, concept albums, sometimes a single piece per side of vinyl.
Key acts
- King Crimson
- Yes
- Genesis
- Rush
Start here
The pickKing Crimson - In the Court of the Crimson King. The first track tells you everything.
Full page →