"The Seven Ages Of Rock" has started airing on VH1 Classic. I've seen the second episode, "Art Rock." Although some people consider "Art Rock" and "Progressive Rock" to be synonymous, but that just isn't the case. My tempered expectations weren't disappointed. This was not a documentary of Progressive Rock. The history offered in this program finally clarified to me what exactly the difference is between the two terms.

 

The bands featured were Pink Floyd, Velvet Underground, David Bowie, Roxy Music, and Genesis. The common thread between these bands was the breaking of conventions in popular music. These conventions, however, mostly concerned lyrical content and visual presentation. Progressive Rock went further by breaking conventions of composition. I was particularly surprised by the inclusion of Velvet Underground in this program. Apparently, their songs featuring lyrics dealing with the street culture of New York were considered "artsy" back in their day. That's hard to comprehend to a contemporary music fan. Songs about drug pushers and prostitutes are pretty conventional today. But, it was their involvement with Pop Artist Andy Warhol that really made them "artsy." Films were projected onto the stage during concerts. From Velvet Underground the show segued to Roxy Music. This is the band I always think of as an example of a band that is "Art Rock" but not "Progressive Rock."

 

Many of the conventions broken by these bands in terms of lyrics and visuals are now mainstream. That's what sets Progressive Rock apart from most of these bands. Genesis and Pink Floyd are the only two of this program's featured bands that qualify as Progressive Rock. The conventions broken by Prog bands in terms of music composition are still conventional today. That's why "Art Rock" as a label has fallen into disuse nowadays.

 

I was happy with what I've learned from this program. It didn't insult Prog the way other documentaries did, but that's mainly because it didn't make a specific reference to it.

 

© 2007 Ronnie “The Cruiser” Cruz