Line #56 Music/GuniwTools


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/TOOLS_457.jpg]]
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3	Guniw Tools (Pronounced "Gunyuu Tools") was a Japanese band with a flair for the bizarre and artistic. It began as a video/performance art brainchild of FULL in 1989; with the addition of musicians Jake and Asaki, the group produced an eclectic mix of Rock, Folk, Jazz, Punk and Industrial music. They signed with major label Victory Music in 1996. FULL directed a video for every single song in their discography, creating a strange visual world to complement their music. Lead guitarist and main songwriter Jake left in 1997, but FULL and Asaki continued making music until late 2000, when they decided to pursue separate endeavors.
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5	Members:
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7	* FULL (古川とも [Furukawa Tomo]) - Vocals, lyrics, art direction
8	* 山鼻あさき (Yamahana Asaki) - guitars, programming, backing vocals (1994-2000)
9	* Jake - guitars, bass, piano, programming, backing vocals (1992-1997)
10	* Dinah - dance, performance ("support member")
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12	Albums:
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14	* ''Niwlun'' (1996)
15	* ''Other Goose'' (1997)
16	* ''Sparky'' (1997)
17	* ''Dazzle'' (1998)
18	* ''Live Sparky'' (1998)
19	* ''Fickle Boon'' (1999)
20	* ''Guniw 200Ls Best'' (2000)
21	----
22	!!Guniw Tools provides examples of:
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24	* AnimatedMusicVideo for [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmUFg_o4Vjk ''Yasashisa wa Atataka na Shihaisha'']]
25	* AntiChristmasSong: One of the loose themes of ''Fat December''
26	* BizarreInstrument: FULL plays "instruments" in several videos that look like bizarre hybrids of string and electronic instruments. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVZvtpjrDp4 . . . is that an electric cello on a tripod that sounds like synthesized brass?]]
27	* CloudCuckooLander: The whole band to a minor extent, but especially FULL; his whimsical art, lyrics and stage presence exemplify this trope. Consider the name of his current solo project, ''Shilfee and Tulipcorobockles'', or his record label, ''Finch Liqueur''.
28	* CreativeDifferences: The reason for Jake's departure.
29	* EvolvingMusic: FULL still covers Guniw Tools songs on his solos tours, albeit in a stripped-down, more ambient style.
30	* FakeOutFadeOut: Briefly in ''Dada'' and ''Cullucoo Vision''
31	* GenreBusting: What happens when Jake's jazz/funk guitar style merges with Asaki's electro-punk sensibilities and Full's love for Himalayan cultures.
32	* GenreRoulette: The band's music is all over the map, ranging from thrashing jazz rock to simple folk to electro-industrial.
33	* GratuitousEnglish: Entire songs of it, such as ''Billy what wild cool night''
34	* ImpracticallyFancyOutfit
35	* IndecipherableLyrics: Many of their "english" songs
36	* LastNoteNightmare: ''From the Inside,'' ''Zujou No Ishi''
37	* LoopedLyrics: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9o-RDCm4fqk Fat December]]: "COME DOWN IS THIS CURE"
38	* LyricalDissonance: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UiSFHwRz6F4 ''Fade Story'']] sounds fairly laid-back, until you actually listen to the lyrics, which seem confused and sad.
39	-->"Who burned that home?"
40	* LyricalTic ''ooh~''
41	* LyricsVideoMismatch
42	* MinimalisticCoverArt: Subverted; their album covers are intricate and surrealist.
43	* NobodyLovesTheBassist: Averted when Jake was in the band, as he played both guitar and bass. Played straight after his departure, when the band had a support bassist who was not a full member and only appeared in a few videos.
44	* NoHitWonder: Despite tenure with a major label, collaboration with Buck-Tick and exposure in music mags, their songs never charted.
45	* NonAppearingTitle: Most of their tracks. It would be difficult to include many titles, considering those such as ''Plenty of Flour'' and ''Baby's One Do''.
46	* PepTalkSong: ''Baby's One Do''
47	-->"Shine now that thin skin has peeled away
48	-->Your uniqueness is the wind carrying you"
49	* SongsOfSolace: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukdqpV7JjGI ''Shuuen no No'']] especially.
50	* SongStyleShift: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8in8IHU_Yg ''Maggot Gun'']] jerks between a stark industrial song with harsh whispering in english and a soaring Japanese ballad several times.
51	* SpokenWordInMusic: The songs ''Border of Taboo'' and ''Devil's Breakfast'' include a woman with a British accent speaking ominously over the music.
52	* StepUpToTheMicrophone: Asaki sings lead on ''Billy what wild cool night'', and shares lead vocals with Jake on ''DISTORTION,'' with Full only contributing to the chorus.
53	* SurrealMusicVideo: Although most of their videos at least briefly show the band members, bizarre colorings, props, costumes and images dominate.
54	* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech: ''DISTORTION'' and ''Grazing''
55	* TranslatedCoverVersion: ''Looser Sugar'' is a cover of ''Sugarcube'' by Yo La Tengo with retooled lyrics in Japanese. Doubles as TheCoverChangesTheMeaning.
56	* WordSaladLyrics

Context Music / GuniwTools