| I don't know much about VS, but from what I understand VS got progressively worse where Silverchair (according to most fans) got better.
Beware, their first two albums (Frogstomp, Freak Show) have a heavy grunge influence. A few gems to be had there, but overall it's pretty unoriginal.
Third album (Neon Ballroom) sees them coming into their own a bit. Bigger use of orchestral elements, but very, very angsty. This album is pretty much a document of the singer's mental issues, so it isn't quite skipping-in-the-park material. I'd say this album has their first ventures into MOR kind of material.
Fourth album (Diorama) is very heavy on the orchestral arrangements and far more uplifting than the previous album. On my first few listens I found odd bits here and there pretty cheesy (took me about 6 weeks before I could listen to the opening track all the way through) but most of it is a grower. Great album, but probably 'Marmite'. Few more MOR tunes there.
Fifth album (Young Modern) is mostly a total departure from all of their previous stuff. Really good tunes that catch you on first listen. It feels wrong to recommend just one, but I think your safest bet could be this one in terms of quality tunes that don't wear their influences on their sleeves so much (although I hear an awful lot of Bowie?).
They do have a GH compilation that takes you through the singles from their first three albums, which should give a pretty good idea of what they were doing back then.
That's about as much as I can sum their stuff up without banging on and on and on.  | 
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