I can definitely attest on this one. Not only was I introduced to SR through Utada, once I heard Ringo, Utada didn't seem quite as gifted anymore.
I think some of it has to do with what you're looking for in music. If you like Japanese ladies with a microphone but you aren't into the bubblegum pop that makes up a lot of Jpop, you'll like Utada. She is edgier, more experimental, and has more complex arrangements than most, and she's so ridiculously popular (especially a few years ago) that you WILL run across her.
That said, if you like any of those things, well, SR has her beat.
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