I recommend Birdy: The Mighty Decode, Ga-Rei Zero, Fruits Basket, Kino's Journey (Kino no Kuni), the first 8 episodes of Claymore, Soul Eater, Shin-Chan, Initial D (if you're into cars), and Junjou Romantica (if you like yaoi).
All of these anime have great english dubs (they're by FUNimation), although I've never seen Kino's Journey in english. and yes, I watch english dubs now because watching fansubs helped me discover that there are only 6 different voices in jap dubs.
Birdy is not groundbreaking, but at the same time, it IS because it executes fundamental techniques in a show so well. Great characters, great development, awesome and NOT drawn-out fight scenes, good soundtrack, and awesome voice acting.
Watch the first ep of Ga-Rei Zero, let it lead you in one direction and completely throw you off track by the end. It is short, it is great, and it is violent, but enough to be mature and not stupidly outrageous.
Fruits Basket is cute and romantic. The story really tugs your heartstrings by the end, it just might make you cry.
Kino's Journey is one of the best episodic anime I've seen. Exploring each new locale along with Kino makes you think you're along for the ride. Every place has something different about them, whether it's the history or the state of the current population. It's rather sad, because Kino seems to possess almost no emotion, a blank slate. But her character will come together as you keep watching.
Claymore's kinda lame as a whole, stopping at the first 8 episodes will make you believe the complete opposite though.
Soul Eater is just a good shounen. If you like action and a large cast of colorful characters, go for it.
Shin-Chan's hilarious, and Initial D isn't afraid to be real technical with cars without spelling anything out for non-car enthusiasts.
and Junjou Romantica is a good yaoi, because it actually has some substance.
