Do you ever feel uncomfortable listening to music that's new to you?
 

When I first heard Erykah Badu and D'Angelo, I kinda liked it, but was more in the "rock music" mindset, and thought "this isn't my music, I shouldn't be listening to this." So I filed it away for a while and forgot about it. This wasn't really a voluntary thing.. it was more of an unconscious thing, where I felt uncomfortable dipping into a totally new genre.
In fact I went so far as to tell myself the music D'Angelo made was lifeless and depressing, and I don't know why. Suddenly though I decided to listen to them again, and realized that it's good music, and I identify with it, so it really is "my" music.

Does anyone else experience this, whether voluntarily or involuntarily, where a new genre is kind of off-putting to you at the beginning?

I suppose everyone has a certain trepidation about listening to music they expect not to like. Although, in the case of D'Angelo, I strongly suspect that your initial response was the correct one. Still, if you enjoy it then who cares?

It really depends. You know, it's been a while since I heard something completely new to me. Most new stuff I listen to is in some way related to other genres/artists I kind of dig. I remember listening to Confusion is Sex + Kill yr Idols for the first time. It was completely new to me but I was instantly hooked.

No.

No, I'll listen to anything of any genre and see if it's good.

I feel uncomfortable to music I don't like.

But I would be wrong to assume that I don't like it because it is new.

I feel more uncomfortable listening to music that's comfortable.

Just remember: There's more to life than life.

You retain the "comfortable" in that sentence in order to be contrary to it.

No.

D'Angelo is fucking awesome. I'm not sure what Demonrail was getting at. His first album is completely ridiculous.

Not so much uncomfortable as anxious to assess.

i only listen to alternative rock, mostly released between 1991 and 1994

I only get uncomfortable when people I like are playing music I hate and saying things like "wow, this is awesome!"

Example, I have a little group of friends who are crazy about Animal Collective and I've grown tired of reminding them I can't stand their music.

I think I understand what you're getting at. I was like that when I first discovered black metal. I didn't really like the music, but I was interested in the history of it. I didn't expect to like black metal, because I'd always hated metal (except for early Iron Maiden). I think the only bm song I genuinely liked was Darkthrone's Transilvanian Hunger, but it wasn't available anywhere, so I just went out and bought Mayhem's Live in Leipzig.

anxious to assess is pretty well put.

no. ive never a problem listening to stuff that i dont usually listen to..if its good its good, if its great ill bore the shit out of people for ages talking about it if its shite ill ridicule it from a height no matter what genre it sprung from......

A 'new' sound is of more interest to me than one I've heard similar things too before, however it is not neccesarily as enjoyable.

Not bothered either way.

I fell uncomfortable until I read the NME to know if it's hip enough for me to listen to it, cause I'm a hipster like that.