Art Rock

Art rock is a subgenre of rock music that predominantly blends musical techniques found in avant-garde and classical music. Art rock musicians commonly merge classical instrumentation with modern music technology such as synthesizers and electric guitars. First emerging in the 1960s, the genre did not gain true momentum until the 1970s. The term art rock is sometimes used interchangeably with progressive rock and experimental rock. Art rock's influences also include psychedelia, folk, pop, and jazz. Artists credited with popularizing the subgenre include King Crimson, Pink Floyd, David Bowie, Roxy Music, Frank Zappa, Brian Eno, and the Velvet Underground. Though prolific throughout much of the 1970s, the genre's popularity began to fade following the arrival of new genres of rock in the 1980s.

Emergence and Popularization

Critics consider several sources the predecessors of the art rock movement. Some regard music producer Phil Spector as the stimulus behind the development of the art rock subgenre. Spector, also a respected songwriter, was known for composing grandly detailed, classically inspired tracks. Music historians also point to the Beatles' fondness for elaborate orchestration as a motivating factor behind the subgenre's creation. The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (2005) is considered by some as the album that gave the genre of rock and roll a new level of artistry. Prior to its release, rock music was often dismissed as teenage entertainment. Both Spector and the Beatles felt inspired by the sophisticated arrangements of European classical composers and sought to emulate these musical masters within the rock genre. American jazz music also heavily influenced the art rock style.

Other musicians followed suit, and soon, artists such as Jethro Tull, Caravan, and the Moody Blues began producing complex albums throughout the later 1960s. Prolific experimental rock artist Frank Zappa made his debut in 1966 with his band the Mothers of Invention, and Zappa would go on to earn a reputation as one of the most eclectic musicians of the rock genre. By the beginning of the 1970s, popular acts such as Yes, Genesis, Queen, and King Crimson were undertaking ambitious rock productions that involved the use of out-of-the-ordinary instruments such as organs and synthesizers.

Art rock became characterized by its immersion of European classical music, American jazz music, and avant-garde techniques. Use of keyboards and synthesizers alongside classical instruments such as strings, brass, and woodwinds were defining elements. Song composition often followed the classically complex forms of operas and classical suites. As a concept, art rock encouraged musicians to assume an air of sophistication as practiced by classical masters. A thorough knowledge of music theory and technique, paired with a strong desire to push the boundaries of the rock genre through experimentation, were essential. This concept extended to lyrics, which often contained topical sociopolitical messages. Art rock soon became associated with what were known as concept albums, records in which the music, lyrics, and album art relay a unified story or message. Artists such as Pink Floyd, Frank Zappa, and the Who produced a number of popular concept albums throughout their careers.

What distinguished art rock from its sibling genres of progressive and experimental rock was its emphasis on avant-garde techniques. Though inspired by classical music, the genre was more geared toward challenging the norms of rock music than simply incorporating classical themes into it. Although music experts often used the terms art rock, progressive rock, and experimental rock synonymously, art rock had more in common with experimental music than progressive music. Art rock, however, still attempted to appeal to audiences, whereas experimental rock primarily explored the musical limits of the genre with little regard for the opinions of listeners.

Inspiration for Later Genres

Art rock trends persisted throughout the 1970s and into the early 1980s as Yes, Pink Floyd, King Crimson, and Genesis continued to appeal to listeners. Rock music began gravitating toward different influences by the end of the 1970s, however, and soon subgenres such as southern rock began cropping up. The concepts behind art rock were incorporated into the music of popular artists such as David Bowie, Roxy Music, Peter Gabriel, and Talking Heads. Art rock even made impressions on the punk rock movement happening simultaneously, leading to the emergence of the art punk and post-punk subgenres. By the mid-1980s, art rock was primarily a driving force behind the rise of new and evolving genres such as pop rock, hard rock, and progressive rock. The late 1980s and early 1990s saw airwaves favoring simple, commercially driven recordings over the multifaceted tracks of art rock-inspired musicians, however. Some artists managed to break through the conventions of popular music to reach large audiences. Laurie Anderson, Kate Bush, and Tori Amos infused pop and art rock to popular effect. Experimental musician Brian Eno also drew a steady fan base that appreciated his artistically inspired compositions throughout his career. The rise of techno music in the 1990s also paid homage to art rock of the 1970s.

The subgenre continued to influence the work of musicians into the twenty-first century. The British rock band Radiohead continued the tradition with an experimental style of art rock futurism into the 2020s with albums like Kid A Mnesia (2021). Other notable artists and works that maintained the art rock tradition include Yves Tumor's Heaven to a Tortured Mind (2020), Corinne Bailey Rae's Black Rainbows (2023), and English Teacher's This Could Be Texas (2024). Though some may classify these artists as experimental, progressive, or pop rock, each incorporates elements of traditional art rock into their works.

Bibliography

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