SALIVAL

Salival is a serious investment for any Tool fan. On the one hand, you're getting their video collection, arguably the best and most original of any band. On the other, you get an album with a few live tracks, some studio wizardry, and some junk. Whether it's worth it or not depends on how much you like Tool, though having their first four videos is worth it anyway.

The tracks that stand out above the rest are the live reworking of "Pushit" and the cover of Zeppelin's "No Quarter," which is a vast improvement over the original (and I'm a Zeppelin-phile). Pushit, maybe the least interesting track on AEnima, is transformed into a slow atmospheric opus that includes tabla solos from Aloke Dutta, Danny Carey's tabla teacher. "No Quarter" is similarly more atmospheric, and breaks down into a Rage Against the Machine-worthy groove at the end.

"Third Eye" opens with a sample of Timothy Leary instead of Bill Hicks, which makes ther song more ominous and schizophrenic sounding. Other than that, it's essentially the same, with similar effects on the guitars and vocals. There's also a good live version of "Part of Me" from Opiate, which is essentially note-for-note like the album version. Other tunes include "Maynard's Dick," which sounds like a send-up of Creed, and "Merkaba," a psychedelic tribal freakout. "L.A. Municiapl Court" is hilarious the first dozen times, but "MEssage to Harry Manback II" is a skip-worthy rehash of the original minus the effects. As an album, "Salval" is disjointed, but the moments of brilliance clearly outweigh the chaff.

So is it worth it? Yep.