Cori's Best of 2003 list:

I hate deciding what's the best stuff every year because I know I'm going to forget something, but here's my list anyway (and yes, I know that majority of my choices are R&B--it's my favorite genre.):

~ Best albums of 2003:

ISSA - Extension. (pop/R&B/rock) I'm surprised about this because I prefer female artists, but this album was great, imo. It had a pretty good variety of songs (R&B, rock, slow ballads) so it kept my attention. Plus, ISSA's voice is pretty sexy. ^^

Amuro Namie - STYLE. (pop/R&B/rock) I really didn't expect much from this album, but I was pleasantly surprised. She has certainly found her niche with the R&B genre.
Click to hear STYLE samples

~ Other good albums:

Every Little Thing - Many Pieces. (pop/rock) I kind of got bored of ELT's music after their Time to Destination album because it seemed all their music was the same synthesized stuff with the occasional sappy ballad, but with their new style (music-wise & Kaori's new hitomi-esque voice), they really sounded like a new & improved ELT.
Click to hear Many Pieces samples

Hinouchi Emi - Dramatiques. (pop/R&B) From reading some people's opinions of this album, I was kind of regretting that I bought it, but it surprised me by being pretty good. It's the kind of album that needs a few listens to appreciate.
Click to hear Dramatiques samples

Mitsunaga Ryota - Inside My Heart. (pop/R&B) This guy has officially replaces Hirai Ken as my favorite male vocalist. His voice is a combination of Hirai Ken, Kuwata Keisuke (Southern All Stars), & Yoshida Takuro. Although his voice is made for R&B, he doesn't stick to that genre, he seems to favor the pop route.

Suite Chic - When the Pop Hits the Fan. (R&B+rap) Though it sounded alike after a while, it was one of my faves this year. For those of you who didn't know, Amuro Namie is the singer.
Click to hear When Pop Hits The Fan samples

Asuka - SHINING. Some of the songs sound like old-school R&B, which I really liked. Solid album.

Bennie K - essence. (R&B+rap) I love their "Tegami" song. Too bad they didn't include the remix of "My Way" instead of the original, which sounds so bland.
Click to hear essence samples

SOULHEAD - Oh My Sister. (R&B/rap/disco/pop) Wow, I forgot this album was released this year. I thought the songs were fun, & it blew me away when I first heard it.
Click to hear Oh My Sister samples

Changin' My Life - Caravan. (pop)
Click to hear Caravan samples

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~ Best singles of 2003:

ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION - Kimi to iu Hana. (Rock) I love this song! Especially the lead singer's lazy way of singing, it's sekushi-, imo. ^_= It's probably my favorite single of 2003!

EXILE - Breezin' Together. (R&B/pop) I love all the songs on this single. Especially "Sunadokei" & "Together" (the theme from the J-drama Hotman).
Click to hear Breezin' Together samples

Kitahara Aiko - Nijiiro ni Hikaru Umi. (Pop/rock) The title song is very upbeat, while the coupling one is a bit more on the rock side. 2 very different songs, but I thought they were both great.

m-flo loves melody & Ryohei Yamamoto - miss you. (pop/dance) Excellent song, plus their collaboration with Chemistry (who I don't usually like) was cool too.
Click to hear miss you samples

Other good singles of 2003:
Shibata Jun - Tonari no Heya. This ballad & her voice is beautiful.
Click to hear Tonari no Heya samples

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~ Best purchase of 2003 that wasn't released in 2003:

SONO - Toki no Ito. (pop) If this album was released in 2003, it would easily be my favorite. Her songs are simple Jpop, no glamorized, cutesy stuff like how a lot of Jpop songs are now. She reminds me a lot of Sakai Noriko, Le Couple, and other similar artists.

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~ Disappointments of 2003:

Albums:

Crystal Kay - 4REAL. (pop/R&B) The songs weren't really as great as her previous albums, plus I didn't really like the singles she released either.

Double - Wonderful. (R&B/pop) Even though she's my favorite artist, this album wasn't too wonderful (heh). While I did like a handful of songs, the rest didn't really move me at all. Plus the lyrics weren't that great either. I really wish she didn't recycle some songs ("My friend" & "Breathe Again") and I wish she kept the other English songs out as well.
Click to hear Wonderful samples

Nakashima Mika - LOVE. (pop) Yes, I know that majority of the people loved this album, but it's basically an album full of singles, with only 3 new songs. Definitely NOT worth it.

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~ Best albums released in 2003, that I got in 2004:

aile - Play. (R&B/rap) This album is probably my favorite J-R&B album of 2003. This definitely surpasses michico's "i do" album in terms of quality, and michico's was a really popular J-R&B album in its time. While aile's voice isn't as great as some of the other R&B singers, the songs definitely make up for it. Despite my description of it being an R&B/rap album, aile doesn't rap at all--it's all courtesy of several guest rappers (including TOKONA-X, D.K., DABO, & SPHERE of INFLUENCE).
Click to hear Play samples

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Whew, I hope I got everything...

(Originally posted on the Jpopmusic Forums)