Interesting. I think I'd reach for Boys for Pele before From the Choirgirl Hotel.

Actually To Venus and Back would be next. With Choirgirl, I think I'd just be bringing it along for Spark, Cruel, Jackie's Strength, and Black Dove.

I agree with ninti in that Tori's first two albums are more cohesive and album-like, whereas the follow-ups (starting with Boys for Pele) started to become singles that happened to be on the same album. I think the albums went downhill, though the quality of the individual songs may have stayed consistent.

Also, adding a band and more instruments and production to the mix probably turned some people off.