Art rock and progressive rock were criticized for abandoning the straightforward, unadorned aesthetic.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Not sure
• D. They were celebrated for complexity

Answer: (A)

The question tests how art rock and progressive rock expanded rock beyond simple, direct songcraft into longer, more elaborate, and concept-driven forms. This shift is exactly what critics pointed to when they argued that these genres abandoned the straightforward, unadorned aesthetic of earlier rock—moving toward intricate arrangements, extended suites, unusual time signatures, orchestral or jazz influences, and album-length concepts. So the statement is true: these styles were criticized for moving away from the plain, accessible sound of early rock. Some welcomed the artistic breadth, but the critique during the era focused on that departure from simplicity.