How does the context of finding out about an musican/band affect how you receive it?

I try to stay open minded - but sme people just have shitty taste (let's not start another debate on taste...) and if they recommend something, I'm not likely to listen to it - but I'll try to find some redeeming quality so I don't have to lie to the person... like getting an ugly tie for Christmas.. "Oh - it's... got vivid colors."

On the other hand, if someone whose taste I trust recommends something, and I just don't like it - I'll try harder to like it - although I'm more likely to be honest with someone who has taste similar to mine.

Something that I have tried for cds in my collection that may have been ruined by context is that I pick random cds, and without looking at them I play a random track, and see if I like it. It's also fun to see how long it takes to try and figure out the song.