Nowadays, saying that you like the Smiths isn’t exactly an Earth-shattering opinion (unless you’re Joseph Gordon Levitt in “500 Days of Summer”), but their influence on indie rock in the decades since their breakup is undeniable. Just look at every British rock band in the ‘90s and nearly all of them will cite The Smiths as direct inspirations. In just five years together they cranked out four albums, two compilation albums, and multiple standalone singles which ranged from “good” to “undisputed classics” despite being fronted by noted piece of shit Morrissey. To put the matter to bed over which ones are truly the greatest, here are ten of their best songs in the exact order as God intended.

10. Half a Person

This might sound crazy, but many of the Smiths B-sides were arguably as good as the singles and album tracks. This one is generally overlooked but upon multiple listens might actually encapsulate their essence perfectly. Morrissey sings about being “sixteen, clumsy, and shy, that’s the story of my life,” an all too relatable sentiment that can last well into adulthood. It could easily serve as the ending song of an ‘80s coming of age teen dramedy.

9. Stop Me if You Think You’ve Heard This One Before

This one proposed the question: who among us hasn’t found ourselves painted into a corner because of over-the-top excuses to get out of plans? This shit kicker features Morrissey’s most brutal lyrics on an album that already included a lot of death and murder (did he know the band was about to split?). The song’s even more ominous when you watch the music video and imagine twenty Moz lookalikes on bicycles barreling down the street at you.

8. How Soon is Now?

And to think this was originally a B-side! Arguably the best-known Smiths song, it’s also their only song you can slow grind thanks in part to Johnny’s epic reverb work and the bass of dearly departed Andy Rourke. Morrissey’s lyrics are simple but straight to the point, as if he’s drunkenly arguing with a friend outside a bar at 3 a.m. about how unfair it is that everyone inside is getting laid except him.

7. Bigmouth Strikes Again

This one is most enjoyed with your speakers/headphones at full volume. This song fits in so many one-liners it’s almost hard to pick which one is the best, but it’s also Morrissey’s most self-depicting song which is saying something as he’s made a career out of putting his foot in his mouth. Check out the live version from “Rank”, which kicks even more ass than the studio version.

6. Hand in Glove

The band’s very first single is also their hardest-hitting on multiple levels. Johnny, Andy, and Mike don’t waste any time getting into it (with bonus harmonica) as Morrissey launches into admonishing close-minded idiots that they can look down on queerness all they want, he doesn’t give a shit about their opinion. In the end, even he knows this love will probably be short-lived but will still fight anyone who looks at them in the wrong direction. Makes one wonder if he was secretly a hardass

5. Panic

While the song was originally inspired by an incredibly unfortunate segway from a tragic news story into a cheery pop song, its message about songs “saying nothing to me about my life” apply to any fan of indie and alternative rock who’ve had to endure FM radio drudgery. It’s like Moz looked to the future, saw Ed Sheeran, and then penned this missive. Bonus points to Johnny Marr for getting a bunch of kids together to sing about publicly executing someone.

4. Still Ill

Please rise and remove your hats for the teen angst national anthem. This is the kind of song that would make even the most introverted youths riot in the streets and burn down a gas station, existential crisis be damned.

3. There is a Light that Never Goes Out

This is pretty much the indie rock equivalent of “I Will Always Love You. In all seriousness though, this is a beautifully assembled, emotionally charged song of unrequited love against the backdrop of the subject being ostracized and disowned by their family. And yet they are completely at peace with dying right then and there because they’re with the right person. On a less serious note, it’s also kind of funny to imagine Morrissey being flattened by a double-decker bus.

2. This Charming Man

This one has it all: an instantly recognizable intro, tight rhythm section, and one of Moz’s best opening lines in the Smiths catalog. It perfectly depicts the agony of being young, confused, alone, and to add insult to injury having absolutely no drip. It’s so endlessly catchy that you may find yourself inadvertently listening to it 20 times a week and never notice.

1. Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now

At the top of the mountain is this indelible, sunny jangle pop masterpiece that would influence pretty much every 90’s indie band. And while the band is locked in to satiate every pleasure center in your brain, it’s Morrissey’s lamentation of having to exist amongst people he wants to dropkick in the face that steals the show. Everyone since time immemorial can relate to landing a job, and then realizing with horror that you have to show up and work.