Best Sylvan disc

Like I stated in my review, Presets is a wonderful ride , as "I can't get it out of my head" (ELO song). Its more accessible than previous efforts but the aforementioned melodies are virulently contagious on this record. Plus, my two daughters and son simply love it too, which is a prime motivator in deflecting their appreciation from the sheer aural garbage they are subjected to. Seeing them groove to "One step beyond" , and drool at the prog-rap of "When the leaves fall down" is worth a million smiles of pride. From Posthumous Silence"  the track "In Chains" has great favour with them.

First of all I have to say one warning : I'm not a big fan of neoprog or other easy accessible forms of prog , so my view on Sylvan can be a little bit different.

As for Sylvan, they are for me one of the few exceptions - their best songs can be appreciated by symphonic prog purist as I am. Why? Their best songs are not too sweet (as e.g. Collage), too poppy (as e.g. Pendragon), too bombastic (as e.g. Arena), their best songs are in my ears one of the best songs in their musical territory.

So where I've found these best songs?

I have first five albums and here is my order :

1. Deliverance - 4 really great songs (Seeking Nights, Those Defiant Ways, Deliverance, Childhood Dreams) - stylistically neoprog with some nice symphonic touches ( esp. beautiful piano segments) and great Gilmourian el. guitar

2. X-Rayed - fourth album has brought change in direction - less accesible and more metallic-alternative sound. Quite underrated album with no weak song, but at the same time, no real highlight

3. Artificial Paradise - 20 min. title song with aggressive and melancholic sections is for me the best Sylvan's song so far, another very good song (Deep Inside), unfortunately the rest is too 'easy listening' for sympho lover

4. Posthumous Silence - the most professional, but according to my taste too melodic and accesible and too polished, sometimes bordering with art-pop