Rotation #1: A world without music is a terribly mortifying one.

1. L'Arc~en~Ciel - Neo Universe
Lyrics: hyde
Music: ken

Released in Jan 2000, juxtaposed with its alter-ego of a half, Finale, it is a beautifully positive/optimistic song (as you would have probably surmised from its title). REAL is one of my favourite albums from Laruku and although this track didn't exactly stand out at first, it has started to grow on me after several replays and I decided that it would give this blog a nice touch since its the first post and the blog's name was partially inspired by this song too ^^.

Single (pic): Neo Universe/Finale (1165yen/USD10.70) - Buy here.
Album: REAL (3059yen/USD26.76) - Buy here.

2. GLAY - Way of Difference
Lyrics & Music: Takuro

Another feel good emo-pop-rock song (sorry if I OD-ed on labels here xD). Its actually from the Unity Family and Roots, Away album.

Single: Way of Difference (Out of Print)
Album: Unity Family and Roots, Away (Out of Print)
Misc (pic): -Ballad Best Singles- WHITE ROAD (3059yen/USD26.76) - Buy here.

3. MONORAL - Tuesday

MONORAL's an English-singing half-Japanese band (actually, two halves make one but oh well). Anis and Ali, the members are both half-Japanese and half-something else, I can't really remember but you can read about them here.

Single: Tuesday (1000yen/USD9.19) - Buy here.
Album (pic): Turbulence (2820 yen/USD25.90) - Buy here.

4. D - Pride

I think this song's more rock than metal since it doesn't focus too much on crazy lead solos and apart from that, I find the vocalist's voice to my liking.

Album (pic): Paradox (2500yen/USD21.87) - Buy here.

5. Ringo Shiina - 白い小鳩 (Shiroi Kobato - White Dove)

This is the first real rocker chick voice I have come across so far. Its just really fun to listen to her sing in this one. She can be very versatile when it comes to her voice. Apparently, she has scars on her shoulder blades due to her repeated surgeries to remedy the problems with her esophagus, making it look as though 'an angel's wings were removed'. Cool, but ouch >.>

唄ひ手冥利 - Utaite Myouri (3600yen/USD31.50) - Buy here.