A Question of Taste...

I've been itching to post a big enthusiastic blog about all the various music I'm listening to at the moment-which bands I'm burningly enthusiastic about, which are accessable, which remind me of others ectect. However, the glazed eyes and "here she goes again" rolls of eyes I often recieve when eventalking about this stuff discourages me.
And it all boils down to a question of taste really. Ever sincecertain members of the ken decided to put together a CD compilation of songs they knew I hated to play at a party I have realised I am more than a little discriminating in my music taste. But who really has any right to proclaim whats good and bad? If taste is purely responsive to the individual then surely we're all getting an utterly personal impression of the same song anyway. We can't help but link lyrics and beats and moods from music to our own lives and personalities. For example, The Ordinary Boys are a post-mod Weller-influenced ska/indie band but they remind me of Japan because it was the first CD I bought when I arrived here. But I still listen and take heed to Johnny Cigarettes when he calls it a "....dizzying injection of youth."
With subjects like food and medicine you listen to experts because they know more about it all than you do. But I'm yet to decide if more musical knowledge makes you more qualified to judge. After all whilst most people love Robbie Williams whilst I find the need to rip my eyelashes out if I hear anything that resembles "Angels." So whose coming out better here? If they go home with a huge sense of well being from his croonings and I go home with bloody eyes then maybe my extensive knowledge of New Wave isn't doing me any favours.
And then you can always subscibe to the school of thought that the artist holds all the power to put any kind of meaning into their work. But as soon as its made public it doesn't belong to them anymore. "There She Goes" by the Las is about heroin but most people think its a lovely love song. I hate it when people don't stick up for their own tastes. "oh I like Kylie and all that crap." Is it really crap to you? Or do you just feel like I think its crap (which I do) and therefore are too lazy to think of your own justifications?
Whichever way you look at it taste is something you can't deny. Its yours so own it.

"Good taste is the excuse I have given for leading such a bad life." Wilde

But Keane are shit. I'm not going back on that one.