The 100 Greatest Ever Artrock Tracks: 20-1

We celebrated our 100th Issue by compiling The Top 100 Greatest Ever Artrock Tracks for you, our lovely readers. Chosen by our wonderful writers, advisers and readers, you won’t find a more complete snapshot of artrock than this.



20. Killing an Arab (1979) - The Cure 
The band’s debut single shows that even Goths can be artrock. A tune! Based, loosely, on Camus' The Outsider.





19. Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground (2001) - The White Stripes 
From the band's third album ‘White Blood Cells’. Championing by the late, great John Peel and a celebrity fan in the shape of Kate Moss helped put the band under the spotlight as they spearheaded the brief but fun garage-rock revival in the UK and showed everyone how powerful a simple vocal, guitar and drums can be.





18. Connection (1994) – Elastica 
So what if they borrowed the guitar line from Wire’s ‘Three Girl Rhumba’, we’re not the stuffy, purist wankers you might think we are, we just adore a great song… and despise a bad one in equal measure. Taking Wire’s original hook up a semitone, Elastica took us to pop heaven with this Britpop classic. Elastica, we salute you.





17. United (1977) - Throbbing Gristle 
Debut single - backed with ‘Zyklon B Zombie’, which made clear The Throbs intention to shock and appall.





16. Bela Lugosi's Dead (1979) – Bauhaus 
Considered the first-ever ‘Gothic rock’ song, it’s just all artrock to us.





15. House Of Jealous Lovers (2002) - The Rapture 
Originally released as a single in 2002, it was later re-released when from the album 'Echoes' in 2003, and made it to #3 in the UK charts. A modern day anthem that really helped snowball the revived artrock scene in the UK.





14. Ex Lion Tamer (1978) – Wire 
B-side to ‘I Am The Fly’ and the only band to feature three different tracks in our Top 100. An achievement, indeed.





13. Psycho Killer (1977) - Talking Heads 
Another track from a debut album, this is a killer song… if you’ll excuse the pun!





12. Formed A Band (2004) - Art Brut 
This lot redefined artrock in the UK, taking it from garage rock back to Pulp, Smith-osian lyric driven indie pop rock. It’s a travesty Eddie Argos and his crew didn’t make it onto Top of the Pops!





11. Transmission (1979) - Joy Division
 Released as a 7" in '79, re-released as a 12" in 1980. Perfection.





10. Love Goes To Buildings On Fire (1977) - Talking Heads
 Yes, this really is better than ‘Psycho Killer’ and it also preceded the release of the band’s debut album. The studio version of this track was only ever released as a single, but a live version later appeared on ‘The Name Of This Band Is Talking Heads’.





9. Marquee Moon (1977) - Television
 While the UK was only just getting into punk back in 1977, New York was already in the midst of giving the world New-Wave, and it doesn’t come much finer than this track from Television’s debut album.





8. Love Like Anthrax (1978) - Gang of Four
 The B-Side to debut single ‘Damaged Goods’ and the band’s best.





7. Frankie Teardrop (1977) – Suicide 
Another ‘first’ as Suicide unleash the world’s first-ever ‘industrial’ track… again, it’s just artrock to us! Bring on the noise.





6. Starman (1972) - David Bowie 
Proof that artrock has a gentle side. A musical-chameleon, Bowie perfectly encompasses the many-faces of artrock.





5. No Fun (1969) - The Stooges 
The second track to feature from this lot, ‘No Fun’ has to be an anthem for every generation. The mash-up with Salt 'n' Pepa’s ‘Push It’ back in 2002 by Soulwax 2 Many DJs on 'As Heard On Radio Pt. 2' didn’t do the track any harm in making sure the indie dancefloors of the UK were once again filled with teens moshing to Iggy and co.





4. Bang (2001) - Yeah Yeah Yeahs 
From debut self-titled EP., it’s the only song to continually get played on national UK radio without the DJs realising Karen O was singing "As fuck, son, you sucked". This EP changed the lives of many back in 2001, and Karen O continues to inspire. Artrocker also put on YYYs first-ever London show! YYYs, we love you.





3. Rock & Roll (1970) - Velvet Underground 
It may not be on the infamous Warhol ‘banana’ album, but this 1970 track is a classic and is still loved and played by Lou Reed to this very day.





2. Virginia Plain (1972) - Roxy Music 
Roxy Music defined artrock with the release of this track back in 1972. Ferry, Eno and chums gave art a sound. A perfect song in every way.

Number 1



1. Last Nite (2001) - The Strokes 
The world changed the week ‘The Modern Age EP’ was released in January 2001, on which the original version of ‘Last Nite’ debuted (although a slicker version was re-recorded for the band's debut album 'Is This It'). This is a must own track and we defy anyone not to jump around like fools in their favourite indie disco to this all-time classic song. A dancefloor filler the world over, this track reinvigorated the sad and directionless music scene in 2001 and is not only the perfect song, but it defined a generation.



CLICK TO LISTEN TO THE 100 GREATEST EVER ARTROCK TRACKS VIA OUR CHART TOPPING SPOTIFY PLAYLIST