The Groove

The greatest art rock artists of all time

144 artists ranked by the Groove — music.nw’s own measure of renown. Not an opinion, a fact computed from the record. Why?

No. 1

Pink Floyd

United Kingdom · 1965–2014 · progressive rock

88.932

Why this number?

The full board · page 3

49 Consorzio Suonatori Indipendenti

Italy · 1992–2000 · rock 2.100

50 Robert Wyatt

United Kingdom · 1945– · art rock 2.093

Brand New

United States of America · 2000– · emo 2.064

52 The Smile

United Kingdom · 2021– · rock 2.052

53 Cardiacs

United Kingdom · 1977–2020 · art rock 1.973

Suede

United Kingdom · 1989– · britpop 1.915

Linkin Park

United States of America · 1996– · nu metal 1.865

56 Patti Smith

United States of America · 1946– · art rock 1.789

Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds

Australia · 1983– · alternative rock 1.775

58 Premiata Forneria Marconi

Italy · 1970– · progressive rock 1.533

Franz Ferdinand

United Kingdom · 2001– · indie rock 1.400

Opeth

Sweden · 1990– · progressive metal 1.383

61 IDLES

United Kingdom · 2009– · post-punk 1.373

Metallica

United States of America · 1981– · heavy metal 1.371

Wilco

United States of America · 1994– · rock 1.305

64 Black Country, New Road

United Kingdom · 2018– · post-rock 1.302

65 Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band

United States of America · 1965–1982 · experimental rock 1.285

Tom Waits

United States of America · 1949– · rock 1.255

Ireland · 1976– · rock 1.200

Leonard Cohen

Canada · 1934–2016 · rock 1.056

69 Roger Waters

United Kingdom · 1943– · rock 1.039

70 The Moody Blues

United Kingdom · 1964–2018 · progressive rock 1.038

71 London Festival Orchestra

United Kingdom · 1950– · progressive rock 1.038

72 Peter Knight

United Kingdom · 1917–1985 · progressive rock 1.038