Interesting thread. One of the points that keeps recurring, mostly implicitly, is an argument about certain genres being intrinsicallly superior (e.g. blues is superior to hip-hop) versus a more nuanced view that there is good stuff in all genres if you take time to find it. I would incline to the latter viewpoint.

For example, a point was made that late 60s Peter Green bluesy Fleetwood Mac was better than the 70s soft-rock incarnation - but I'd say both were great **in their respective genres**.

Even in the contemporary pop most contributors here despise, there is work of wit, creativity and power. Lumping in Lady Gaga (who has those qualities) with vapid schmucks like Justin Bieber is foolish - but doing so does go hand-in-hand with the 'some genres can only be bad' mindset that runs through many posts here.

Open ears tend to be advantageous when listening to music.