Quality of recording vs Musical tastes

Sean,
I think you are close to the defining lines of what makes the difference between an audiophile and that of a music fan.
I think the path you have taken is fine personally I try to veer away from that stance but I've flirted with it,to me really well-produced or recorded music that doesn't entertain,excite or produce an emotional response in me is pointless.
Having been on this forum for a while I find some of the stuff that people like in terms of modern stuff to be frankly a bit bland and dull.
Of course this is only my opinion but it does strike there is an element of finding music that sounds great on your system rather than any real musical investigation in terms of finding exciting new or even old stuff.
It appears to me a rather technical approach to music than an emotional one.
I really can't agree that all modern popular recordings are bad but then I'm more interested in the musical content than the recording.
Sometimes there is new great stuff that isn't as well recorded as I would like.
I approach my musical investigation from a different and in my opinion more productive stance and that is I read about it.
I buy all the music mags,sometimes I read about obscure lost classics that I feel I need to buy and sometimes it's new stuff..............
To honour the spirit of your post I would highly recommend Point by a Japanese guy called Cornelius,it's not exactly mainstream but it is very musical,it's not unlike a Brian Wilson type thing meets modern cutting and pasting,it is melodic and beautiful in an ambient way in places.
It's on Matador records,just released and the bonus is (imho)that it is one of the best recordings I have ever heard.
The album is segued together,with many sonic tricks not unlike what Floyd used to do although the music is more on an avant-garde pop level.

An excellent point Craig, Sean! As a pure Classical and Jazz fan, some other titles come to mind though:
The Dire Straights LPs (all)
Joni Mitchel, whose "Blue" LP brought me on to her.
Chet Atkins " in Hollywood" brought me on to his other RCA LPs
"Pyramid" brought me on to the Alan Parsons Project.
Brad Mehldau -but forgot the CD through which I caught fire-
"The Road to Ensenada " made me want more of Lyle Lovett.
And the title of "They don't make Jews like Jesus anymore" got me high on Kinky Freedman!!
The're probably much more, but can't think of them right now.
Cheers

My angle, perhaps blending previous views. Often, recordings that I have acquired to try (curiosity, recommendation, etc) do not initially meet with my approval; that is, I don't care for them! However, if the recording is outstanding in some way, I am motivated to listen again for that reason and often learn or grow to appreciate or even like the album. :)

I'm with Sndsel on that. Once I've asked my friend why he doesn't like Mireille Mathieu(french femal singer) even if it was his type of music. He explained to me that she hasn't any good recordings, and it doesn't makee a sence to have a high-end rig if you want to listen to her.
I do worship music and I've always been faithful with it. Music is my religion and if it well performed I would listen to it despite the recording quality and the other way: I would never listen even for top-noch recording with something I dislike.