Boris Grebenshchikov - Worth Noting

Worth Noting

BG has virtually always been able to skilfully combine his interests into a cohesive, if highly eclectic, whole. His lyrics can and often do feature Buddhism, Russian Orthodoxy, and alcohol consumption in the same quatrain. The ability has only grown stronger over the years. 1999's Psi switches from detailed references to samurai culture to mentions of a certain carpenter's son to data storage on hard drives, all the while maintaining tight lyrical cohesion.

He has a unique singing voice. A combination of his natural timbre with a specific vibrato with downward expansion of range and unusual resonation acquired through training make his voice immediately recognizable.

His output has been rather prolific. Over the 30+ years of his career he wrote 500+ songs, most of which were recorded and/or performed publicly. At this point Aquarium has 21 albums in the official discography, approximately 12 "unofficial ones", and about as many live records. Additionally, BG recorded cover albums on material from the two most prominent Russian-language songwriters (Alexander Vertinsky (1994's Songs of A.Vertinsky (Pesni A.Vertinskogo)) and Bulat Okudzhava (1999's Songs of B.Okudzhava (Pesni B.Okudzhavy))), two albums of mantra music with Gabrielle Roth and the Mirrors, (1998's Refuge and 2002's Bardo), and an album of electronica versions of Aquarium songs from late 1970s – early 1980s with the Russian duo Deadushki. Which left him time to be credited on records by big-in-Russia bands Nautilus Pompilius, Mashina Vremeni and Kino, as well as the UK acts Shakespears Sister and Kate St. John. This list is not exhaustive, either.