Utada Hikaru - Exodus (Island/2005)

In Japan, Utada Hikaru is a superstar singer. In Europe and in USA she is unknown. Born in NY in 1983 to a traditional Japanese-style singer mother and a musician/producer father, Hikaru Utada grew up in the recording studio. Her father's production job bounced her between New York City and Tokyo, with the only constant being naps and homework in the studio. She was bilingual at an early age and soon came to understand both American and Japanese cultures.
Her first J-Pop albums were inspired by US Alternative rock. But she started getting R&B attention by hiring Rodney Jerkins and Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis on the album Distance (2001) with the massive hit "Addicted To You". She also worked with the Neptunes on the Rush Hour 2 Soundtrack.
For her first english album she decided to work with Steve Sidelnyk and Pete Davis (that worked with Robbie Williams, Dido...), Mars Volta's drummer Jon Theodore and of course superstar Timbaland.
It’s not a pop masterpiece but it’s a decidedly good record. Few J-Pop artists ever attempt to make such a bold and risky record, but with Exodus, Utada has established herself as an individual who can proudly stand aside from the rest of the identikit J-Pop idols.
The title track Exodus'04 (you can watch the video just below is the best track of 2004 for me with oriental strings and vocals and with superb piano adlibs. The song is talking about her departure from her country to launch a career in USA.
If you are tired of your usual R&B singer try that album and if you start feeling that beautiful singer go get her japanese albums (www.yesasia.com to buy asian records).
She get a new album this year called "Ultra Blue".