SALIVAL

To keep fans waiting during the 5-year gap between 1996's landmark "AEnima" and their 2001 opus "Lateralus", Tool released the Salival boxset in 2000. This boxset comprised of a DVD of 5 of their music videos (not reviewed here) and a CD with live and unreleased tracks.

The first three tracks of this CD are live tracks from "Aenima" and "Opiate" albums. "Third Eye" and "Pushit" are widly different from their album incarnations, with the former turning into a spectral, meandering jam in the middle section and the latter slowing and calming down. The live version of "Part of Me" is faithful to the original, but like the other two live tracks, it works better live than on album.

And what of the new songs? There are two new instumentals: the incredible, dark, 10- minute soundscape that is "Merkeba" and an altered version of "Message from Harry Manback". There are also two covers: "You Lied" from bassist Justin Chancellor's old band Peach and Led Zeppelin's classic "No Quater". In each instance, Tool take on these songs and claim them as their own. You Lied becomes a stunning backdrop for Maynard's vocal acrobatics and No Quater is slowed down and altered to turn it from a slow, calm song into a gargantuan, epic, multi-faceted stormer. This track, along with the previously mentioned "Third Eye" and "Pushit", is the centerpiece of the CD.

On the last track, 2 totally new songs in basically a single track are revealed. The first six minutes are given to "L.A.M.C."(Los Angeles Municipal Court), and it is the only disapointment on the disc. It consists solely of a 6 minute recording of their answering machine with droning, noisy guitars occasionally chugging out a chord.The last 3 and a half minutes are given to "Maynard's Dick", an unusually simple, radio-friendly and quick song, with silly lyrics which provide proof, along with "Disgustipated" on their album "Undertow", that Tool really do have a sense of humor.

Not essential,but a good cd.Fans of Progressive Metal and especially fans of Tool will like it,3 stars.