Artists you initially didn't like but eventually came to enjoy

[joel_ostrom]

I've had a long run of disliking certain music and musicians in my life but have come to loosen up a lot over the years. When I was young (like 14) I only liked country music because that's what my parents listened to. I assumed that any kind of pop/rock was just too edgy and I avoided it. Which was a shame because I'm sure I missed out on a lot.

Today I'm a fan of bands like Greenday, Linkin Park, Metallica, Blink 182 etc. when I would have totally abhorred it when I was younger. I'm still a diehard country fan but my horizons have broadened exponentially. Even certain country artists that I used to turn up my nose to, like Keith Urban or Dierks Bentley, I now rather enjoy listening to.

What artists or music did you dislike at first but later had a change in taste?

[Stuco]

Rush and Bruce Springsteen are two that come to mind.

[joelstrummer]

The most extreme example that came to mind for me personally is Steely Dan. I could not stand them at first, then grew over time to love them- actually went through a real Steely Dan phase for a while! I do think it is fair to say that they go in the "acquired taste" category, but once that taste is acquired, they are indeed a very rewarding listen.

[drf64]

joe jackson

[dougmon]

Rory Gallagher. Could not stand the first record I heard, but eventually came to like his work a great deal.

[blowtorch]

I honestly can't think of any. My initial instincts are pretty damn good, I think, I either like it or I don't and that doesn't change. Some bands change their style over time into something I enjoy. But that's not the same thing, I think

[kec!]

Originally Posted by dougmon

Rory Gallagher. Could not stand the first record I heard, but eventually came to like his work a great deal.

Was that Taste or Rory's 1st album?

[Mr_Mer]

Jack White
System of a Down
Bob Dylan
Green Day

must be others, can't think of it.

[62 Jazzmaster]

Rolling Stones when they started out. They looked so 'grungy' compared the other bands of the time.

Jimi Hendrix. It took me a few years to appreciate his music.

[joel_ostrom]

Originally Posted by 62 Jazzmaster

Jimi Hendrix. It took me a few years to appreciate his music.

+1 for this. At first I was sort of 'meh' about Hendrix. I didn't start to fully appreciate the genius of his work until a few years ago. Now he's one of my all time favorite and most inspirational artists. Like, top 3 favorite!

[raito]

Dar Williams.

See, my wife is a bit younger than I, and she listens to a lot of what I'd term 'whiny girl' music. And I lumped her in with that based on the couple songs I'd heard.

After hearing more, it turns out that she's more of a folk singer, and those couple tunes really aren't representative. In particular, 'The Babysitter's Here' is some pretty good stuff.

It's less a matter of growing on me than a poor first impression.

[A.B.Negative]

The Pixies. It took a while before I got where they were coming from.

[blueshawk100]

Shawn Phillips

[Radspin]

Kraftwerk -- I just didn't "get it" when I first heard them and thought "Autobahn" was silly and that "The Man Machine" was boring and repetitive. After hearing "Computer World" for the first time in the early '80s and being completely and utterly stunned by it, I started listening to their other albums again and came to realize that it was some of the most astounding, sublime music ever created. Especially when you consider how ahead of their time they were and to me, still are...electronic music production is everywhere but most of it sounds like repetitive, unimaginative loops and canned sounds...while Kraftwerk is in a sonic and musical world of their own.

[Collirem]

R.E.M. .... could not get into their music during the 80's. Many years later I listened to Adventures In High Fi and it just clicked for me. They became one of my favorite bands after that. I got their entire album catalog and all the early albums from murmur through the last, Collapse Into Now. Today it all sounds great to me. My very favorite albums being Automatic For The People & UP. I know some people on this site cannot "stand" them. They are another example of a band that is an acquired taste.

[telepath]

Black Crowes

Humble Pie / Faces / Bad Co / Stones rip-off artists .. I originally thought.
Actually .. maybe so . .but .. ;)

I played the Crowes so much in the car at one time that after that the good lady wife often requests their CD's to be put on when we are on the road.
Result!

[Sherpa]

Dylan and the Dead - it took me awhile to appreciate them. Then again, it took me awhile to learn to appreciate scotch, so I guess I'm a little behind the curve....

[MacQuarrie]

For me it's Bruce Springsteen. Bought my Baja and started listening to him and mainly the guitar. Now I can't stop listening. Cheesy I know, but it's true.

[B.G.L.]

Led Zeppelin. I was a punk rock guy in high school and Zep was impenetrable, vaguely creepy, hippy/stoner yuckiness. A year or two later, one of my buddies suddenly had ALL the Zep records. Cruising one night on a country road, Trampled Underfoot at ear-splitting volume knocked me sideways. THAT was my entry point, and made me a believer.

[Dflo]

Ben Folds,,,, He was opening for someone and I didn't know who he was. Drums, Bass, And Ben on piano. NO Guitar!! This guy must SUCK!
a few songs later I'm having to admit "He's not bad" to someone. by the end of the show I was ready to buy an album.