What is art rock?

I had posted my opinion about art rock that was partially influenced by ChatGPT answer. This is what I posted there.

So, while I am still considering whether I accept the following, I would say that I did think of the term of art rock to be more expansive than prog rock. The following is an answer generated by ChatGPT to the question of the difference between progressive rock and art rock.

Art rock and progressive rock are often used interchangeably to describe the same genre of music. However, there can be slight nuances in their usage. Art rock is a broader term that encompasses a wide range of experimental and avant-garde rock music that incorporates elements of classical, jazz, and other genres. It emphasizes artistic and creative expression, often pushing the boundaries of traditional rock music. Progressive rock, on the other hand, is a more specific subgenre of art rock. It refers to a particular style of rock music that emerged in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Progressive rock is characterized by its complex compositions, intricate instrumental arrangements, and lengthy song structures. It often features virtuosic musicianship, concept albums, and lyrical themes that explore philosophical and literary concepts. While all progressive rock can be considered art rock, not all art rock falls under the category of progressive rock. Art rock can include a broader range of experimental and unconventional rock music that may not necessarily adhere to the characteristics of progressive rock. In summary, art rock is a broader term encompassing experimental and avant-garde rock music, while progressive rock refers specifically to the complex and musically sophisticated style within the art rock genre.

And thinking more about it, prior to visiting Prog Archives, I had thought of Prog Rock as that more specific genre of music that came from the late 60's and 70's that is most closely associated with Symphonic Rock and expanded to include the types of music similar from what comes from the usually accepted "Big Five".

To me, I had not prior to visiting PA considered Jazz Rock Fusion, RIO, Post Rock, or Math Rock as subgenre's of Prog Rock. But Art Rock would. Even something like Post Punk, would be a part of Art Rock.

Good answer. No way ChatGTP can top that.

I understand is basically a glorified search engine. I also think that one can probably refine one's questions to lead it to provide answers you want to hear. My initial question was what is art rock. The answer to that was basically the same as what you would find on Wikipedia---that art rock is another term for progressive rock. So, the follow up on what is the difference lead it to search for answers that lead it to what I copied. If I ask again with maybe a question of examples of a progressive rock bands that are not art rock and vice versa, it could lead to some interesting (or not) results.

It is interesting to me to hear about how the art rock subcategory got split into crossover and eclectic. But that would explain why some less apparent bands would be on PA to begin with, such as Oingo Boingo, Talking Heads, and David Bowie.

On a group like Tangerine Dream, as best as I can recall, I first heard their music in the early 80's and I think they were called electronic and I had not associated them to what I knew as progressive rock back then.

Art rock is more or less what is called crossover prog on here. Many of those bands could be labelled art rock. Some examples would be Styx, Ambrosia, 10CC, Bebop Deluxe, Roxy Music, Crack The Sky, Supertramp, etc. Sometimes they do full on prog but usually they are not quite full blown prog. They still have prog elements in their music though. That is my take on it anyway.

Edited by AFlowerKingCrimson - July 09 2023 at 20:56

Edited by Sean Trane - July 10 2023 at 08:10

^ the labeling system is a bit weird on RYM. If you look at the top albums for avant-prog it will include zeuhl because they consider zeuhl a subset of avant-prog. The labeling can be done by anyone so you can't take the labeling of albums as an absolute but by definition all prog would be considered art rock

siLLy puPPy wrote: ^ All prog is art rock but not all art rock is prog as evidenced by the top ART ROCK albums on RYM's chart https://rateyourmusic.com/charts/top/album/all-time/g:art%2drock/ OK Computer Radiohead 4.26 91,202 1,688 16 June 1997 Alternative Rock Art Rock Post-Britpop Space Rock Revival melancholic anxious alienation male vocals futuristic existential lonely atmospheric Wish You Were Here Pink Floyd 4.32 62,872 980 12 September 1975 Progressive Rock Art Rock Space Rock melancholic atmospheric progressive male vocals concept album serious longing introspective In the Court of the Crimson King King Crimson 4.31 57,824 929 10 October 1969 Progressive Rock Art Rock Symphonic Prog Jazz-Rock Free Improvisation Psychedelic Rock fantasy epic progressive complex poetic surreal philosophical male vocals Kid A Radiohead 4.25 75,061 833 3 October 2000 Art Rock Electronic Experimental Rock Ambient IDM Art Pop cold melancholic futuristic atmospheric anxious cryptic sombre abstract In Rainbows Radiohead 4.28 65,424 852 10 October 2007 Art Rock Alternative Rock Electronic Dream Pop Art Pop lush male vocals melancholic introspective bittersweet atmospheric mellow warm The Dark Side of the Moon Pink Floyd 4.22 72,651 1,418 23 March 1973 Art Rock Progressive Rock Psychedelic Rock Space Rock atmospheric philosophical existential introspective concept album male vocals psychedelic mellow The Velvet Underground & Nico The Velvet Underground & Nico 4.21 55,798 1,008 12 March 1967 Art Rock Experimental Rock Proto-Punk Noise Rock Garage Rock Psychedelic Rock Slowcore drugs raw sexual noisy urban avant-garde male vocals eclectic Red King Crimson 4.23 29,867 459 6 October 1974 Progressive Rock Art Rock Jazz-Rock Hard Rock Free Improvisation dark heavy anxious technical ominous uncommon time signatures complex progressive Animals Pink Floyd 4.17 46,155 740 21 January 1977 Progressive Rock Art Rock Psychedelic Rock political pessimistic philosophical concept album sarcastic progressive satirical male vocals Low David Bowie 4.13 35,705 553 14 January 1977 Art Rock Ambient Electronic Art Pop Krautrock atmospheric lonely futuristic cryptic abstract sombre male vocals melancholic Marquee Moon Television 4.13 31,934 443 8 February 1977 Art Punk Art Rock Post-Punk rhythmic male vocals poetic technical cryptic introspective philosophical anxious ★ [Blackstar] David Bowie 4.11 32,251 359 8 January 2016 Art Rock Jazz-Rock Experimental Rock Electronic death dark introspective poetic male vocals melancholic concept album funereal Station to Station David Bowie 4.12 26,407 387 23 January 1976 Art Rock Funk Rock Blue-Eyed Soul Funk Rock Piano Rock drugs anxious lonely introspective male vocals cryptic alienation passionate Ants From Up There Black Country, New Road 4.02 34,127 579 4 February 2022 Art Rock Post-Rock Chamber Pop Chamber Music Indie Rock longing melancholic passionate lush sentimental male vocals love bittersweet Spirit of Eden Talk Talk 4.07 21,328 237 16 September 1988 Post-Rock Art Rock Chamber Jazz Jazz-Rock atmospheric passionate religious peaceful meditative introspective male vocals spiritual Hunky Dory David Bowie 4.01 33,604 536 17 December 1971 Glam Rock Pop Rock Art Rock Singer-Songwriter Piano Rock Art Pop Baroque Pop melodic playful quirky male vocals lush warm melancholic sarcastic Another Green World Eno 4.02 22,383 328 14 November 1975 Art Rock Electronic Ambient Art Pop peaceful atmospheric meditative calm surreal mysterious male vocals futuristic A Moon Shaped Pool Radiohead 3.94 38,799 319 8 May 2016 Art Pop Art Rock Chamber Pop Ambient Pop Electronic Space Rock Revival atmospheric melancholic sombre introspective lush mellow male vocals mysterious "Heroes" David Bowie 3.99 27,328 316 14 October 1977 Art Rock Ambient Electronic Art Pop Krautrock futuristic atmospheric male vocals abstract anxious cold progressive complex Discipline King Crimson 4.00 18,332 242 22 September 1981 Art Rock Progressive Rock New Wave Avant-Prog uncommon time signatures technical rhythmic complex anxious male vocals progressive energetic El jardín de los presentes Invisible 4.04 6,373 71 29 September 1976 Progressive Rock Art Rock Jazz-Rock Psychedelic Rock Art Rock Tango nuevo poetic melancholic mellow progressive existential complex passionate male vocals Quebec Ween 3.99 12,605 131 5 August 2003 Art Rock Neo-Psychedelia Alternative Rock Experimental Rock Folk Rock Psychedelic Pop Progressive Rock eclectic drugs surreal psychedelic bittersweet atmospheric melancholic male vocals Yankee Hotel Foxtrot Wilco 3.92 26,015 403 23 April 2002 Indie Rock Art Rock Americana Alt-Country Art Rock melancholic bittersweet male vocals poetic sentimental melodic autumn introspective 加爾基 精液 栗ノ花 (Kalk samen kuri no hana) Sheena Ringo 椎名林檎 3.99 10,193 81 23 February 2003 Art Pop Art Rock Progressive Pop Chamber Pop Jazz Pop Progressive Pop J-Rock Noise Pop eclectic anxious playful female vocals dense lush complex melodic The Mollusk Ween 3.95 16,493 180 24 June 1997 Art Rock Neo-Psychedelia Sea Shanty Psychedelic Rock Psychedelic Pop Experimental Rock Comedy Rock aquatic playful humorous eclectic psychedelic surreal quirky male vocals

Edited by David_D - July 10 2023 at 17:15