From Fairport and the Albions, especially anything melodeon based like Morris On (and endless progeny thereof), thru' to Watersons and Carthys, off piste stuff like Malicorne and Alain Stivell, all the scots, Gaughan, McNeill, Battlefields and Wolfestone, most of the irish, Planxty, Chieftains, the list is endless, but my enjoyment is largely solitary.
Am I surrounded by savages?
Those who remind me of a smelly black deposit continue to be those who have endeared themselves, incomprehensibly to me, to many on this site, and my prejudices are only too well known to recite ad infinitum. However, let me, I think for the first time, say how much I can't stand that Seth lakeman and his whiny horrid voice. Don't much like Spiers and Boden/Bellowhead either.Or Steeleye Span, bogglingly enough, at least after the fabulous first 3 albums and the subsequent loss of Carthy and Hutchings.
Consistent? I can't be arsed.
Bet that surprises you.

...Frank Zappa and Captain Beefheart will figure highly here. Have lots of Zappa's albums and they get pretty regular plays; Beefheart I like but tend to play less often ('Safe As Milk' gets lots of plays, though). I could see how both are a very acquired taste.

Scott Walker's output seems to similarly divide people, especially 'Tilt'. To be frank, I don't know what to make of that one myself yet!

The Grateful Dead might be the ultimate; you either are a devout fan or you're not, there seems to be little middle ground.

To be quite honest, I suspect a lot of the music I love comes under this category as well but in some ways, it's better to provoke an extreme reaction than bland acceptance, relating to David's comment on the new podcast about whether anyone would feel excited by the possibility of the new Coldplay album. Like Oasis or James Blunt, these seem to be acts that a whole nation buys the new albums of, but you can't move in boot sales/second hand stores after about a year since their release for copies of these albums.

that Billy Bragg was telling us at his recent gig in Gateshead that he reckoned he ought to be sponsored by Marmite, cos you either love him or hate him. "Be honest", he said to the assembled masses, "what was the reaction from your mates when you said you were coming to see me tonight..."

I think it often comes down to voices which are an acquired taste like Mister Thom (who many would would like to say goodnight to forever - see what I did there?)or Neil Young or Dylan. Personally, I often like a an unusual, not conventially musical voice more than it's opposite kind. But Elvis Costello's whine is one that I can't warm to nor Billy Bragg's unpleasant bark.

The Fall tend to polarise opinions. Oddly enough, they polarize my own opinion - there are times when I love them and times when I can't stand them. Elvis Costello also, to some extent. Does anyone else have regular "mood swings" towards a particular artist?

Someone whose music I love dearly, but all past girlfriends and MrsP just can't stand him. Although at his gigs there never seems to be a shortage of females, so maybe I'm just unucky.

are a band that all my good, music listening friends seem to worship that I really do not like. I don't actually mind the some of the music, it's more the whole "thing" that surrounds them that really winds me. They played good pop music, lets get over it!

Bob Dylan is another I don't like - and Sven hit it on the head for me - his voice. Really really grates on my ears!

Elton John and Robbie Williams - my Mrs loves these two, if it comes on I leave the house. Elton - it's his voice Robbie - erm well it's Robbie!!

But it does work both ways -

Tom Waits - I really like a lot of his stuff I only have 1 friend who likes him. Everyone else hates his voice - regardless of which style he does.

System of a Down - just too heavy for my friends

Seasick Steve and Son of Dave don't go down well with my friends either - they don't mind BB King style blues but strip it this far back and they hate the whole sound!

it's quite pleasant on occasion.

...the instrumental kind, that is, seems to polarise opinions. Those who detest it suggest that: (a) it sounds like a bunch of musicians, each in a separate room, unable to hear any of the others, playing completely different and unrelated tunes; and, (b) they start off playing a nice recognisable tune for 30 seconds, then just head off in random directions for the next 10 minutes, before finally remembering what tune they started with, and briefly reprising it. To all of which the jazz afficionado responds "yes, terrific, isn't it?".

as far as I am concerned - thick brown gooey stuff that smells unpleasant. Is that Marmite or something else??
Others are definitely Queen, Oasis, The Smiths (just didnt get them at all), Status Quo, Any of the poodle permed big hair groups coming out of the USA in the 80's and Television. Marquee Moon was a one hit album that got hyped beyond all reason - actually Nirvana come to think of it - great even classic opening to Smells like Teen Spirit but what else was there?

I've announced my Tull affections before in this forum....needless to say the vast majority of people I know, even ones who are major music fans, can't get on with them. I do understand it. You have to be able to take on board long, fairly complex themes and arrangements, tolerate lengthy guitar solos and flute tooting, plus not mind them looking rather bizarre and singing about stuff which is generally a long way from I'm pissed off/I love him/her. Actually, thinking about it, there is a reasonable amount of "I'm pissed off". Mind you, those who do get it, get it big time.

(** hums riff from "Thick as a brick" defiantly**)

p.s. I played "Mother goose" in a pub in St. Albans last night. Ha!

...the early ELP albums, I'll concede they are another band that seriously divide opinion. Even amongst progressive rock fans this lot really divide the board- you either love them or hate them.

Queen are another one, agreed, as this site has a fair amount of people that hate them (though I've been a fan for years).

I'm not entirely sure hair metal is a marmite genre; I don't know that anyone would admit to loving it in the first place, as like so-called 'nu metal', it seems almost accepted that it was crap (though I bet there'd be someone on this site that enjoys it, as it's a very broad church here and is all the better for it)! In my days of collecting various facets of metal I ended up with Poison, Motley Crue and Warrant albums, which were simply ghastly. About the only one I found to have the odd passable tune was Cinderella, who probably had the worst name!

....yes no-one will agree to liking 'hair metal' now but back in the day I had loads of friends who liked Boston,REO Speedwagon,Styx and the later version of Chicago to name just a few.I disliked them then and loathe them now.
Current Marmite for me is Loudon Wainwright - I dont have any friends who like but I think he is a genius. Then you have his son who is revered by many but who I think is complete garbage. Thank god loudon had a daughter is all I can say.

Mariah Carey, Scooch, Steps.... the list is endless.

My wife loves them all (with the exception of Mariah Carey). Me? I've agreed to forbear comment - and leave the room when she plays her music.

Save yourself and your soul - divorce now while you've still got a chance !!

Er, come to think of it, that would be the basis for the end of most marriages on this planet, including my own. Why do some people have such s**t taste in music? Is it their upbringing ? Why are Girls Aloud on this planet ? I think we should be told...

...as far as I could see, one track with a quite good riff and... erm... that's it.

Never bought into to the saviours of rock level of adulation. Couldn't see it meself!

Besides, no bass player? I mean! Come on!

I have tried to listen but it is screechy claptrap. Especially their abomination of "Jolene"..... I ask you!

My wife dislikes "all that boring indie crap and out of fashion 70´s rock " of mine. Still what do you expect when you marry a 21-year old swimsuit model.

21 now or when you married her (10 years ago)?

Well, it has to be the marmite daddies of them all - Tindersticks. Gloomy, doomy, whiskey etc etc. I love the sticks but am truly the only human I know who can stand them.

see also

1 NicK Cave - seems to be an aquired taste
2 The (Mighty) Fall
3 The Pastels
4 My heroes, The WEDDING PRESENT!!!!

... the Northerner Who Must Not Be Named*. There's precious few sat on the fence where he's concerned. My ex came out in hives at the very mention of his name. The fateful day when she found herself unwittingly singing along to one of his songs on the radio was very nearly the end of her!

*(or has that all passed under the bridge now?)

I am dangerously close to including him in the "Blind Spot" strand, having only very recently "got" the Smiths.

I just can't stand Kate Rusby. I simply can't understand how anyone can (and I'm understanding enough to allow people to "get" Radiohead - if they must). Yet if if her name comes up and I profer my opinion I get blank looks as though there must be something wrong with me.

there is.
(All views are entirely those of the correspondent and do not necessarily reflect etc etc)
;-)

What's not to like about her? Great singer with great material. I guess if you dont like her it is really girl folk singers in general you dont like? She surely isn't as difficult to like as Radiohead?

Radiohead
Joy Division
The Smiths
Nirvana

You get the idea.