This is something I think about every now and then:
All Opeth albums are so good that the choice is really between which feeling I like the most. If I was to choose which Cd sounds the best I would have to say Still life just a bit over BWP. If I had to say which songwriting was the best I would say MAYH just a bit over the Still Life.
But they all carry different feelings. Orchid and Morningrise are a bit similar. Between MAYH, Still Life and BWP, they are all very different as to the feelings they convey.
Orchid is wild and mysterious, also chaotic,
Morningrise is the most beautiful and romantic in lament and sadness, (in contrast to the name it has)
MAYH is the beautiful and most evil,
Still Life is lovely, actually its probably the most joyous one (in contrast to the name it has),
and finally BWP is dark, but also very strong, powerful.
My favorite? Morningrise by far, followed by MAYH, Still life, Orchid and BWP. In that order.
Sfarog(NYC)