The Smiths: better than The Beatles?

Of course they were!

Here's why:

1, The Smiths were Mancunian, the Beatles were from Liverpool... oh,dear.
2. Lyrically, Morrissey's words drew on such diverse literary sources as Oscar Wilde, Shelagh Delaney and Keith Waterhouse; it has yet to be determined who or what inspired 'Yellow Submarine'.
3. The Smiths had Johnny Marr-the greatest guitarist of his generation;The Beatles couldn't even decide who should play base.
4. Morrissey sported a magnificent quiff-the Beatles looked as though somebody had stuck a pudding bowl on their head and snipped round the edges.
5. Covers- any band that uses Charles Hawtrey, the legendary comedian from the Carry On films, as a cover star, is by any definition, Great. Any band that has themselves using a zebra crossing on Abbey Road, isn't.
6. Post break-up music: Morrissey wrote the sublime Now My Heart is Full, a homage to Graeme Green's Brighton Rock. Paul McCartney wrote The Frog Chorus, a homage to,er, frogs.

I rest my case.