Gravedig'd.
I think this needs to be revived.
After reviewing around 20 more bands and artists since then...
The Beatles own now more than ever. I don't think anyone has a greater collection of truly timeless, diverse songs then they have.
A band may have ten or so REALLY good songs, that are real classics, or will be. The Killers present pretty good work, I like The Darkness's first album a lot, Disturbed is solid, Tool, and there're quite a few more older bands as well... But the beatles had around 30 REALLY great songs, if not more. I think the hype around them was truly deserved.
They wrote their own music, wrote other people's music, and inspired hundreds of bands and artists to want to make music. Including myself, though I suck.
Even as performers, they were pretty damn solid, going back on looking at live performances. Any of the beatles alone had great careers as artists, producing tons of hits outside of the original band. Combine the three (I'm not counting Ringo in this, though he was a good drummer and nice guy) and you've got this bundle of asskickery with the ability to massacre any other band, ever.
The Beatles are not just good for their time, they're great in the now.
Go listen to Strawberry fields or Hey Jude and tell me those aren't two of the greatest songs you've ever heard.