Lovely Western music

Great as an introduction to Western music! A best-of album loved around the world.

Freelance music writerTakashi Hoshino
I’m Takashi Hoshino, a freelance writer currently juggling work with parenting. I’ve been playing guitar for over 20 years since I first picked it up when I started high school, and I’m still active in a band today. Ever since I began playing, I’ve been drawn to hard rock and heavy metal, and I enjoy intense music, whether Japanese or Western. At the same time, I keep in mind something I was told long ago: “If you want to play rock, you should know more than just rock!” With that in my heart, I make a point of listening to a wide range of genres every day. My experience as a writer is still growing, but I’ll keep working hard to recommend all kinds of music to as many people as possible!

For those who have primarily listened to Japanese music, it can be hard to know where to start with Western music.

If you have a friend nearby who loves Western music, they might be able to give you recommendations, but without someone like that, it can be tough to take the first step.

So this time, we’re introducing best-of albums from a variety of artists.

Best-of albums usually include many of the tracks that are especially popular for that artist, and you’ll also find songs you may have heard in Japan on TV shows or commercials.

If any artist catches your interest, be sure to pick up their music and give it a listen!

Also recommended as an introduction to Western music! A best-of album loved around the world. (11–20)

The Very Best of Deep PurpleDeep Purple

Deep Purple – Smoke On The Water (Live, 1974, California)

The Very Best of Deep PurpleDeep Purple

Deep Purple is the perfect band for a beginner’s dive into the allure of Western rock.

Their “The Very Best of Deep Purple” spans a career that reached the pinnacle of hard rock and continues to captivate a wide range of fans.

Recognized by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, their talent—and the classic songs that colored their era—remain as vibrant as ever.

The refined sound of tracks like the intro to “Smoke on the Water,” unforgettable after a single listen, glitters like a gem.

Even those new to Western music are sure to feel their hearts race.

This album is filled with memories, and it carries the hope that, as you listen, you’ll carve out new moments of your own.

Raise the rankinglower

In conclusion

This time we introduced best-of albums by a wide range of artists, from solo acts to bands, covering various genres.

Including songs familiar in Japan, we hope these picks felt approachable even for newcomers to Western music.

Whether you dive deeper into these artists after listening, or discover others in the same genre, we’d be glad if this serves as a gateway to new musical experiences.