ill say the obvious: close to the edge
siberian khatru is my fave, and i agree with what someone said about that first riff.. its the best! and the cohesive chaoticness of the beginning of close to the edge is some of my favorite guitar playing ever. Nowadays, even in metal, guitarists seem to have such a straight angular approach! I know Howe is not infallible himself but he has some of the most style ive ever heard in a player... imo
tales is hard to get into... I think most of it sucks. There are some good parts though.. I think the core ideas of the first disc are good-- i like the reappearing melody of "they move fast, they tell me, but i just cant believe they really mean to." And I listen to Tales *just* for the part in the first song, "getting over overhanging trees, let them rape the forest..." I love the guitar in the background with the vocal melody.
The whole band dislikes tales though, except maybe anderson. Ive read many funny quotes theyve said about it, but i cant recall them now