This one developed out of a discussion I had with my best mate a few months back.

Essentially, everyone has their favourites when it comes to music. Equally, we also have our bugbears, the ones we don't like; never did and never will. However, during the course of this tannin-fuelled chat, the two of us came to the realisation that we may dislike particular acts to quite alarming degrees. Nevertheless, we both had to admit that there would invariably be at least one track by a 'despised one' that we actually quite liked, really...

Time was this phenomenon would go under the heading of 'guilty pleasures', but I've never really got that one. Personally, if it does need to be used, then apply it to genres only, not particular artists.

Some examples? Sure:
The Osmonds - Crazy Horses (still no excuse for Jimmy Osmond, though)
Bucks Fizz - New Beginning (horribly 80's, but I just love the African/Adam and the Ants - style drums.)
Celine Dion - I'm Alive (the horse-faced one proves she can sing about matters other than love and its loss. Plus, she even sounds like she's enjoying herself.)
James Blunt - Wisemen (finally comes up with another emotion other than 'miserable obsessive')
Whitney Houston - It's Not Right, But It's OK (stops over-singing and learns that breathing in more than twice a minute is a good thing.)

And you know what? It works both ways. No, don't give me that; you know that there's plenty of horse apples dropped by even the best of them.
How about:
Lou Reed - Metal Machine Music (severe case of WTF if ever there was.)
Madness - Money, Money, Money (ill-judged ABBAmania band wagon jumping.)
Stevie Wonder - I Just Called To Say I Love You (mawkish mess. 'Nuff said.)
Peter Gabriel - Steam (sorry - didn't you already do 'Sledgehammer'?)
Aretha Franklin - Who's Zooming Who (the 80's weren't kind to many evergreens, were they?)

There are evens exceptions to this rule. I have yet to enjoy anything by Leona Lewis, or dislike owt by XTC - and I'm not expecting that to change.

I'm not expecting anyone to agree with me on these choices. Taste is always a personal thing. The thing is, though - I defy anyone out there to tell me there isn't a single example they can provide from their own musical tastes or collections that would prove this point.

Go on - I dare you.