Looking for something new to listen to? Don’t know where to start? Here are some of the albums Megumi recommends out of the albums we’ve already reviewed. I only put my favourite of each artist’s albums here, with other suggested albums after it 
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(Updated regularly as more reviews come in)
- Amuro Namie – PLAY
This album is seriously awesome and never once does it lose my attention with its infectious beats and melodies. If you haven’t listened to this album yet, I highly suggest you do! Amuro has some pretty awesome upbeat R&B-pop music.
Other albums of note: Queen of Hip-Pop - Angela Aki – HOME
Angela Aki writes some really beautiful music. I know a lot of people find her music boring, but I find there’s so much sincerity in the way she presents her music vocally and musically. There’s not much difference between her two albums, but I enjoy classic Angela Aki a bit more than her recent stuff.
Other albums of note: TODAY - ayaka – First Message
ayaka has an amazing, powerful voice and she always put so much into her music. While the music isn’t amazing, ayaka has a way making it spectacular with her vocals. She also has some pretty amazing ballads in this album. They are some of the highlights and shows off the power in this lady’s voice.
Other albums of note: N/A - Lee Hyori – Dark Angel
I like to describe this girl as Britney Spears, but better. She has some of the general upbeat sound of Spears, but with a more enthusiastic vocal that makes her music absolutely infectious. One of my friends was actually really surprised that I loved this album since I’m not usually into this kind of music, but Lee Hyori pulls it off well. Tsuki also makes fun of me for liking her
. She’s a bit of a guilty pleasure, I admit.
Other albums of note: N/A - Nakashima Mika – Oborodzukiyo ~Inori (Mini Album)
Yes, this is a mini-album, but it’s definitely my favourite from Mika’s collection. It has one of the most gorgeous folk songs from Mika (the title song), and the other tracks on the mini album are equally as strong. Have you ever heard the instrumental of Oborodzukiyo~Inori? Gorgeous. Mika tends to sound a bit bored at times, but I adore her deep, resonant voice.
Other albums of note: LOVE, MUSIC, YES - OLIVIA – OLIVIA inspi’ REIRA (TRAPNEST)
I love the music that OLIVIA wrote as REIRA. A lot of it is very gorgeous and in my opinion, some of OLIVIA’s best works. Some of her older stuff didn’t appeal to me as much (although they aren’t bad), but I fell in love with this album after I listened to it. I adore OLIVIA’s unique voice and how it can handle both ballads and rock music at the same time. There’s a kind of unearthly beauty to it (especially if you listen to “Space Halo”)
Other albums of note: The Lost Lolli - Onitsuka Chihiro – Insomnia
Chihiro’s debut album is my favourite from her. It has the most consistently beautifully written, sung and played songs out of Chihiro’s discography. While her later albums aren’t bad, they just don’t have the same amount of consistent passion throughout the album. I adore Chihiro’s piano ballads, and she has a way of grabbing your (figurative) heart and not letting go.
Other albums of note: Sugar High, This Armor - Rie fu – Rie fu
Rie fu has a way of effortlessly weaving English and Japanese lyrics together. Her music is also consistently heartwarming and charming. There’s something in her voice that I really like: it has charm and has a light, down-to-earth quality about it. Her music never feels overwhelming or over-the-top. Her music is very similar throughout the three albums, so I would recommend starting with her first one.
Other albums of note: ROSE ALBUM, Tobira Album - Theresa Sokyrka – These Old Charms
Theresa Sokyrka is the product of the evil of the Idol franchise; however, unlike many of her colleagues, when she left (she was second in the second season of Canadian Idol), she signed instead to an indie label, and made this cover album of jazzy and folk tunes along with some of her own songs. She’s personally one of the best people ever to be on any of the North American Idol franchises as she never has to sing a glory note to catch our attention. She’s amazing at scatting as well.
Other albums of note: Something is Expected (But I haven’t reviewed it yet XD) - Tommy february 6 – Tommy february6
This album is by far the best solo album Kawase Tomoko has released thus far. It has a pretty solid repertoire of catchy, 80’s pop tracks. This stuff is cute is ridiculously addictive.
Other albums of note: N/A - Utada Hikaru – DEEP RIVER
Admittedly, this is my favourite album because it’s in between her electronica-experimental phase and her R&B phase. It has a little of both worlds. In addition, it has DEEP RIVER, which is one of her prettiest ballads. Utada starts to show some of the creative ideas she has up her sleeve in this album, and I love it.
Other albums of note: Distance, ULTRA BLUE, HEART STATION - Vienna Teng – Warm Strangers
I have a hard time choosing which Vienna Teng album I like the most, but since was the first one I heard to its entirety, I’ll suggest this one =). Vienna Teng has one of the most warming voices I’ve ever heard. It’s not technically excellent, but she has a way of expressing her music that just tugs at your heart. It’s haunting, yet heartwarming at the same time. She’s extremely musical in the way she performs on vocals and the piano. Her lyrics are poetic and effortless.
Other albums of note: Waking Hour, Dreaming Through the Noise - YUI – CAN’T BUY MY LOVE
As if her first album wasn’t addictive enough, YUI comes out with a stronger album the second time around (mostly because her ballads this time around wasn’t as blantantly boring). Her Happy Birthday to you you is adorable. YUI doesn’t have the best voice, but she knows how to perform her music with what she has.
Other albums of note: From me to you
