When I first heard a recording of a traditional singer, quite frankly I didn't like it. It sounded very rough, and not very good. Traditional melodeon players just sounded thumpy, and fiddle players screechy. That's what I meant by "challenging".

With more listening, and especially after hearing traditional performers in a live setting, I began to understand and to hear the subtleties in what they were doing. But it took time.

I remember being at a party where the host couldn't get people to go home, so he played an album by a certain well-known traditional singer. It worked.