The Groove

The greatest baroque pop artists of all time

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

No. 1

The Beach Boys

United States of America · 1961– · pop

7.179

Why this number?

The full board

The Beatles

United Kingdom · 1960–1970 · rock 5.767

3 Scott Walker

United Kingdom · 1943–2019 · baroque pop 3.437

4 The Kinks

United Kingdom · 1964–1996 · pop rock 2.900

David Bowie

United Kingdom · 1947–2016 · rock 2.883

Queen

United Kingdom · 1970– · rock 2.574

7 The Zombies

United Kingdom · 1961– · rock 2.496

Leonard Cohen

Canada · 1934–2016 · rock 2.204

9 Love

United States of America · 1965–2005 · psychedelic rock 2.178

10 Fiona Apple

United States of America · 1977– · rock 1.933

11 The Moody Blues

United Kingdom · 1964–2018 · progressive rock 1.776

12 Panic! at the Disco

United States of America · 2004–2023 · pop rock 1.775

Lana Del Rey

United States of America · 1985– · pop 1.750

14 Vampire Weekend

United States of America · 2006– · indie rock 1.557

Sufjan Stevens

United States of America · 1975– · indie folk 1.530

Kate Bush

United Kingdom · 1958– · art rock 1.463

17 Nick Drake

United Kingdom · 1948–1974 · folk 1.457

18 Bon Iver

United States of America · 2006– · indie folk 1.342

The Rolling Stones

United Kingdom · 1962– · rock 1.337

20 Andrew Bird

United States of America · 1973– · baroque pop 1.100

Florence + the Machine

United Kingdom · 2007– · alternative rock 1.088

Elton John

United Kingdom · 1947– · rock 1.024

Arcade Fire

Canada · 2001– · indie rock 0.860

24 The Mamas & the Papas

United States of America · 1965–1972 · folk rock 0.828