YUI

She started out like what most Jap singers will do, by releasing her singles. Her songs are very catchy and lasting. It's hard to resist playing it over and over again, especially when it gets etched in your mind after a while, for me at least. She has got a very crisp and clean voice, suitable for soft rock, but the ballads she belts out never fail to pack that punch and bring out one's sentimentality deep down. Starring in "Taiyou No Uta", or 太阳之歌, a jap movie, definitely brought her fame and helped her shoot to the top charts of Oricon. Currently with two albums in her portfolio, I will recommend the song she sang for the hit anime "Bleach" titled "Rolling Star", "CHE.R.RY" from her second album "Can't Buy My Love" and of course the theme song from her movie, "Goodbye Days". Have got a load of her songs to recommend but it will be best if anyone interested can check out her albums. The first one's called "From Me To You". Until now, she remains my favourite Jap singer.

Fiction Junction YUUKA

Their group name might not be that well known in Singapore. I personally came across their songs because of anime. Their brand of music is very special, because the male composer Yuki Kajiura is actually very talented and the has written many instrumental soundtracks for anime. His musical arrangement is splendid, with all the different blending of moods, instrumental settings and haunting melodies. The singer Yuuka Nanri has a very unique voice that sounds like a mix of choral and pop, very expressive and engaging.

Best known for songs like "Akatsuki no Kuruma" and "Honoo no Tobira" from the hit mecha series Gundam Seed, "Aikoi" and "Dream Scape" from Tsubasa Chronicles, they have also released a new album "Circus" since their debut album "Destination". Another hard choice to recommend songs since they all sound equally good. But those I mentioned will be a good start.

Next I shall move on to albums. There are a couple I have listened to recently. SHE's Play matched up to their normal standard although this new one has got more surprises. Personally prefer 《再别康桥》、《五月天》、《听袁惟仁弹吉他》.

迷路兵的新专辑也值得一听。一直以来都没特别支持他们，不过这首张专辑制作得还不错，虽然曲目仅九首，但都蛮耐听的。《泪》的音乐感很强烈，rock得够漂亮，《适应》很抒情，专辑充分运用了Nick浑厚的歌声和Sam清脆的嗓音，两者交替，效果值得鼓励。《Get Alive》有态度但不做作，《So Sad》叛逆得很有趣，《我为什么还爱你》很K，就是这样，不知不觉，被他们的Made In Singapore的本土味吸引。

王力宏的《改变自己》真的让我等了很久。盼了又盼，三番两次向CD店询问都没有结果，还好出来后一切等待还算有收获。虽然他的音乐回归抒情栏目，但依然越听越好听，《落叶归根》很隽永、委婉、复古，《我们的歌》是万人合唱曲，《不完整的旋律》、《爱在哪里》维持情歌水准，倒是与Selina的《你是我心内的一首歌》最特别，福建华语夹杂其中，两人的默契颇佳，旋律简单却悦耳。这张专辑跟主打《落叶归根》理念一致，有返璞归真，一切从简的感觉。比较贴近心灵，可能更能得到认同。

歌曲方面，韩国歌手成京诗的《在街上》是意外听到的，一听就爱。《两百磅美女》主题曲《Maria》很有节奏感，极富高低起伏。