I went with NIGHT IS THE NEW DAY. That album is still a masterpiece to me. But a very close follow up is THE GREAT COLD DISTANCE. The only reason NITND is currently ahead of TGCD is because TGCD had too many great songs cut off of it, whereas I believe everything that was finished was included on NITND, thus making it a more complete sounding album. Of course that will be ruined when they release the next "b-side" though. After that, I have come to appreciate a few songs off of VIVA EMPTINESS and a couple songs from LAST FAIR DEAL GONE DOWN. Beyond that, I haven't heard anything else I liked off of any of the older albums.
Jack