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 · page 2

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