>If you have listened to them and don't like them, that's one thing. I think you are speaking from a lack of knowledge. I defy anyone to listen to their music and not like them.
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>I've listened to quite a bit of the Dead and Garcia - granted, much of music tastes are subjective, but I've never found their music skillful or impressive or interesting. To be honest, it bores me. Same with the Beatles.
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>Sometimes music can be impressive but still uninspiring - for instance, Beethoven was certainly skillful - but Franz Liszt had it all, and created some of the most adventurous music of all time.
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>I never criticize someone for their music tastes (except if someone likes Bon Jovi, haha) - but I often find that music tastes (and art tastes in general) reflect one's sense of life.

That may be true, and I certainly do not criticize anyone for their tastes.

Oddly enough, my first alcoholism counselor was a Bon Jovi fan to the point of a vanity plate on her car. Like many good counselors, she had been down that road herself when she was younger. She is a good person who did more than her share of messing up and is trying to make up for it. Her example inspires me sometimes.

There was another counselor in the office who sat in for her when she had to be away. He and Denise were like night and day. He was an academic with no human empathy whatsoever. In that line of work you either have it or you don't.

A woman I went there with turns up in my AA group from time to time. She said Denise got canned for fudging applications so patients didn't have to pay as much. Now that is truly government idiocy in action. She said Denise is back at school, working for her master's in Social Work.