Earlier this week, I showed you guys five albums that influenced our beloved 2NE1 leader CL. Well, I decided to do my own “Musician’s Choice” post here on Ningin and introduce to you guys five Asian albums that “beat in my heart.”

1. Leehom Wang - Change Me
This album is definitely one of my favorite albums of all time. One of the real distinguishing factors about Leehom’s music is that it is a wonderful combination of the East and the West. Using musical influences from both worlds, Leehom is able to take things as foreign as traditional Chinese instruments and combine them with a Western beats. To me, this album stands out from the rest of his works, because the last track is my favorite song of all time: “Saturday’s Midnight.”

2. Gummy - Loveless
I am such a sucker for songs about heartbreak. In music, I feel that there is a powerful force at work when you sing about something as intimate and as personal as heartbreak. Gummy’s Loveless album, which features flawless vocals and amazing instrumentals, is certainly full of lost love and is definitely one of the albums that will leave me speechless for many, many more years to come.

3. 2NE1 - 2NE1 (EP)
Number three on my list brings us to a slightly less depressing album. When 2NE1 first debuted, the group blew my mind. Sporting a fierce concept that differed from a lot of what was currently in the market, 2NE1 was and still is a unique and refreshing group to listen to. When their mini-album hit, I listened to it and had my mind blown again. All seven tracks on the CD are simply amazing, and I give huge props to the group, as well as the producers and composers behind this epic mini-album!

4. UVERworld - Timeless
Sure, I usually prefer songs that are more along the genre line of ballad and R&B, but that doesn’t mean that I don’t appreciate other genres of music! Japanese rock is definitely a unique genre of music, and UVERworld is definitely my favorite when it comes down to it. I was first introduced to the group when I first started watching Bleach, and I instantly fell in love with their song “D-Technolife,” which is one of the tracks on the Timeless album. If you’re a little timid about dabbling in J-rock, then UVERworld should definitely be your first choice, because the band makes the genre a lot more accessible to people not so familiar with the genre (as opposed to more hardcore bands).

5. BoA - Best of Soul
Believe it or not, picking just five albums out of my entire collection was quite a difficult task. This last album, however, definitely deserves a spot on this list. Technically a “compilation album,” BoA’s Best of Soul album is a Japanese collection of some of her best works. This album definitely shows BoA’s versatility, with songs ranging from “Double” to “NO. 1″ to “Jewel Song.” In my opinion, BoA is arguably one of the most talented artists of all time, and this album definitely shows that.

What are your top 5 picks for Asian albums that ‘beat in your heart’?