The Groove

The greatest alternative artists of all time

44 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 Cure

United Kingdom · 1977– · new wave

173.200

Why this number?

The full board

Nirvana

United States of America · 1987–1994 · grunge 150.280

Pearl Jam

United States of America · 1990– · grunge 124.760

Alice in Chains

United States of America · 1987– · grunge 95.005

Talking Heads

United States of America · 1974–1991 · new wave 94.040

Oasis

United Kingdom · 1991– · britpop 86.620

Blur

United Kingdom · 1990– · britpop 66.780

Suede

United Kingdom · 1989– · britpop 56.740

9 My Bloody Valentine

Ireland · 1983– · shoegaze 37.970

10 Pulp

United Kingdom · 1978– · britpop 37.870

Blondie

United States of America · 1974– · new wave 35.240

Tears for Fears

United Kingdom · 1981– · new wave 33.430

Duran Duran

United Kingdom · 1978– · new wave 24.090

14 Slowdive

United Kingdom · 1989– · shoegaze 21.500

15 Eurythmics

United Kingdom · 1980–2005 · new wave 15.210

16 Have a Nice Life

United States of America · 2000– · shoegaze 14.190

17 Thomas Dolby

United Kingdom · 1958– · new wave 11.690

Simple Minds

United Kingdom · 1977– · new wave 10.840

19 DEVO

United States of America · 1972– · new wave 10.010

20 Japan

United Kingdom · 1974–1982 · new wave 9.600

21 Supergrass

United Kingdom · 1993–2010 · britpop 9.000

22 Adam Ant

United Kingdom · 1954– · new wave 8.800

23 Adam and the Ants

United Kingdom · 1977–1982 · new wave 8.580

24 Ride

United Kingdom · 1988– · shoegaze 7.740

25 Кино 1981–1990 · new wave 6.568

26 The Verve

United Kingdom · 1989–2009 · britpop 6.300

27 Cyndi Lauper

United States of America · 1953– · new wave 6.230

28 Gary Numan

United Kingdom · 1958– · new wave 5.810

29 The The

United Kingdom · 1979– · new wave 5.810

30 Alphaville

Germany · 1983– · new wave 5.580

31 Pretenders

United Kingdom · 1978– · new wave 4.980

32 The Human League

United Kingdom · 1977– · new wave 4.690

33 Dexys Midnight Runners

United Kingdom · 1978– · new wave 4.620

34 Kevin Rowland

United Kingdom · 1953– · new wave 4.620

35 Yazoo

United Kingdom · 1982–1983 · new wave 4.400

36 Tubeway Army

United Kingdom · 1977–1979 · new wave 4.200

37 XTC

United Kingdom · 1976–2006 · new wave 4.200

38 L7

United States of America · 1985– · grunge 4.000

39 Oingo Boingo

United States of America · 1972–1995 · new wave 4.000

40 ’Til Tuesday

United States of America · 1982–1989 · new wave 4.000

41 Candy Claws

United States of America · 2007– · shoegaze 3.900

42 Travis

United Kingdom · 1990– · britpop 3.650

43 A Flock of Seagulls

United Kingdom · 1980– · new wave 3.600

44 Empire of the Sun

Australia · 2006– · new wave 3.200