You and your constant badgering to check them out got me to check them out. And now I hate you because I like them. Like I don't have enough "Mystery" nonsense going on with A.F.I.

Grrr... ::Goes off to listen to Parabol(a)::

Not a huge fan.

This post was my bi-annual Music Folder post.

I wasn't at first, but they really grew on me. I really like the tracks that lead into one another, like Parabol-Parabola and Wings For Marie Pts. 1 and 2.

Now I need to badger you to stop checking out AFI...

Don't even bother, because that ain't gonna happen. By the by, what should I pick up next? I have Lateralus, Aenemia and 10k Days... I'm thinking about getting the Parabola DVD thing...

Undertow. It's a little different from everything you have now, but it's still awesome in it's own way.

Okay. Is the DVD any good? Parabol(a) is my faveourite song off of Lateralus, so it looks pretty enticing...

I haven't seen it to tell you the truth. I've actually never even knew there was a DVD out. Is it live stuff or what?

It's the Music video, with a couple of remixes by Lustamort (or someone like that) and a commentary by Jello of the Dead Kennedy's.

Oh, that's all? Probably not worth it, really. I really wish they'd put out a live DVD, though. It's been rumored for awhile (like since right after Lateralus was released) but never came out. Tool live is the greatest thing ever.

In order, here's what I'd buy next if I were you:
1. Undertow - Really, it's a little more raw than what you have already, but you should enjoy it. You've probably heard a few songs off of it already (Sober, Intolerance), and the rest is all good.
2. Opiate - This might be hard for you to find, I know I ended up having to order it off Amazon because no record stores around here had it. Again, more raw than something like Lateralus music-wise and only six songs, but they are six good ones. Still really good and a must for any big Tool fan.
3. APC's Mer de Noms - I noticed you said you really like Maynard's lyrics, and he's written some of his best for APC. The music is completely different, but the lyrics make you think just as much as any of Maynard's Tool stuff, which I feel is his strong point in writing: He really makes you think about what he just said and all the possible meanings.

13th Step isn't really a must have, but it's still good for what it is. If you're still craving some Maynard after all of this, I'd say buy it. Stay away from the third APC album though, there's nothing you really need there. After that you're stuck waiting for another 5 years until new stuff is released like every other fan...

Ok, thanks. I think I saw Opiate at my local Best Buy, so I may end up picking both It and Undertow up together. What about Salival? Is that a live disk, or something?

It's a two disc set with a CD/DVD combo. The CD has a few live tracks on it along with some other rare studio stuff and covers. The DVD is all their music videos from Opiate to Aenema. This is even harder to find than Opiate and I still have only a bootleg...

So it's nothing I should worry about getting yet, then?

Probably not, unless you're really into music videos and b-sides. The strong point is the live version of Pushit and the cover of Zeppelin's No Quarter...

Ah, okay. I'll leave that for after the other stuff, then.

And you DEFINATELY need to see them live sometime during your lifetime.

They've jumped to the top of my list to see, trust me. I have a friend at work who raved about them as much as you do, and he told me some fucking sick stories about their stage show.

I know Some Asshole who has about 20 live TOOL recordings, should you ever want to go the trading route:

http://www.estragand.com/music/bootlegs.asp

I can promise that there's nothing in my possesion anyone would want to trade for. I own zero rare cd's.

Pick up any of my recomendations yet, LFV?

No, I haven't. They're probably what I'm goingto go for next, though. I saw Undertow today, but I went with NIN since I'm seeing them next week.