The Groove

The greatest post-punk artists of all time

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

No. 1

Joy Division

United Kingdom · 1978–1980 · post-punk

26.535

Why this number?

The full board · page 2

The Clash

United Kingdom · 1976–1986 · punk rock 1.994

Sonic Youth

United States of America · 1981–2011 · alternative rock 1.967

27 The Jesus and Mary Chain

United Kingdom · 1984– · alternative rock 1.935

28 DEVO

United States of America · 1972– · new wave 1.803

29 Public Image Ltd

United Kingdom · 1978– · post-punk 1.768

30 The National

United States of America · 1999– · indie rock 1.484

31 Interpol

United States of America · 1997– · indie rock 1.472

32 Minutemen

United States of America · 1980–1985 · post-punk 1.380

R.E.M.

United States of America · 1980–2011 · alternative rock 1.371

34 Bauhaus

United Kingdom · 1978–2008 · rock 1.246

35 Black Country, New Road

United Kingdom · 2018– · post-rock 1.210

36 Cabaret Voltaire

United Kingdom · 1973– · electro 1.146

37 Viagra Boys

Sweden · 2015– · post-punk 1.036

38 Violent Femmes

United States of America · 1980– · rock 1.030

39 The The

United Kingdom · 1979– · new wave 0.968

Dead Can Dance

Australia · 1981– · electronic 0.923

41 black midi

United Kingdom · 2017–2024 · math rock 0.890

42 Cardiacs

United Kingdom · 1977–2020 · art rock 0.864

43 This Heat

United Kingdom · 1975–1982 · experimental rock 0.845

44 Кино 1981–1990 · new wave 0.787

Pixies

United States of America · 1986– · alternative rock 0.750

46 Unwound

United States of America · 1991– · post-hardcore 0.711

47 The Mission

United Kingdom · 1985– · gothic rock 0.698

The Police

United Kingdom · 1977–2008 · rock 0.682