Music Filter: Can you recommend some contemporary Russian music?

February 16, 2008 12:06 AM

Music Filter: Can you recommend some contemporary Russian music?

I am looking for some contemporary Russian songs that are not derivative pop, but are something memorable. They would preferably have a great melody, interesting lyrics, and an impressive vocal style. Of course I love stuff that is lyrical, but rap and rock are good too, as long as the song is really creative and nuanced.

posted by gregb1007 to media & arts (12 comments total)

Not sure if it's exactly what you're looking for, but the first thing that came to mind for me was Zvuki Mu.
posted by flod logic at 1:47 AM on February 16

Zemfira.
posted by posadnitsa at 5:53 AM on February 16

I like 5nizza and Zemfira; don't know how much they've put out recently, but both had new albums at least a couple of years ago. 5nizza is unlike most other Russian music groups in a lot of ways, but most striking is that it just seems like 2 guys with acoustic guitars having a lot of fun playing with words and sounds in a catchy way and then sometimes throwing a little bit of reggae in. 5nizza's song "Soldat" is what got me hooked on them.

Julia Vorontsova is sort of like a modern female bard. I think she lives in Brooklyn, and sometimes she's out of tune to my ears, and not in a good way, but I still listen to her "From St. Petersburg with Love" every now and again.

And Glukoza's always good for a journey into the stranger side of Russian pop.
posted by msbrauer at 6:05 AM on February 16 [1 favorite]

Yuliya Chicherina (Юлия Чичерина) and group B2 (Б2 or Би 2, can never remember), My Rock and Roll (Мой Рок и Ролл), I think.
posted by londongeezer at 6:28 AM on February 16

Having said which, here's Zemfira and Bi-2, same song... So take yr pick :)
posted by londongeezer at 6:47 AM on February 16

I like Kipelov (x2) a lot - well on the rock side of things, but melodic, and the vocals are quite clear.
posted by Wolfdog at 8:05 AM on February 16

Can anyone recommend a good Bi 2 album?
posted by gesamtkunstwerk at 8:23 AM on February 16

Wow. I really like Kipelov's voice. He looks like meatloaf, but his voice is so clean and pure.
posted by gesamtkunstwerk at 8:33 AM on February 16

If you are willing to listen to Black Metal Tvangeste are very enjoyable. They are from Russia and released their first album from there, but they moved to Canada a year ago and are working on their second.
posted by munchingzombie at 8:49 AM on February 16

Not related, but I'm amused that londongeezer appears to have answered my AskMe question in this thread... :-)

I love Zemfira but beware her earlier stuff; the production can be way cheesy and she hadn't quite found herself yet. "Znak Beskonechnost" is a gorgeous song - it turned me on to the entire concept of Russian pop music. It's found on this album.
posted by mykescipark at 9:31 AM on February 16

Can anyone recommend a good Bi 2 album?

I have "Wolves" which is more of an EP, and it's pretty good.

Personally, I like their frequent tourmates Splin better. They've got a really rockin' late-90s alt-rock feel to them.

Otherwise, I recommend Krematoriy (Крематорий), which is kind of like an '80s Guided by Voices deal; Auktsyon(АукцЫон), along the same lines. Zimovye Zverei (Зимовье Зверей) is bluesy and well-written. Nochnye Snaipery (Ночные Снайперы) were really popular a few years ago, but they've broken up since--even though they're somewhat poppy, I'm a big fan (violin, girl singer). Their bassist/drummer/keyboardist are all from the very well-known '80s band Nautilus Pompilius, whom I also recommend. Zoopark (Зоопарк) are from the classic '70s of Russian rock, almost like a lo-fi, non-electric, vocals-driven New York Dolls or something.

On the punk front, Korol i Shut (Король и Шут) is mainstream (but still hella good) and put on a great live show, while Chetyre Tarakana (Четыре Таракана) is something like a gritty late-'90s Ramones.

I posted about Venya Drkin here, which you might like, and be sure to check out these posts about Yanka Diaghileva and Kino.
posted by nasreddin at 2:38 PM on February 16

There are two really good compilations - Russendisko and Russensoul on the German Trikont label, which feature a load of Russian (and thereabouts) bands. Also worth checking out the recently released Ersatz Musika (on Asphalt Tango), which features Leonid Soybelman of Ne Zhdali (mentioned here previously).
posted by kxr at 1:53 AM on February 17