I am a composer by profession. I am, therefore, pretty much consigned to listening to my own compositions. I provide music for radio stations, independant films, Public Broadcasting Stations, documentaries, etc.
Do I get sick of my own stuff? You better believe I do. But, as a composer I have to be both enthusiast and critic as the same time. Often I lose my objectivity. I just can't tell if what I've done is any good or not. That is when I try to enlist the aid of strangers who are not related to me who will give me their unvarnished opinion.
Music and people's tastes in music is fascinating as a subject.
For younger people, music represents WHO THEY ARE. They are telling the world by what they listen to what they themselves stand for.
It is a very personal representation! I've seen boyfriend/girlfriend get into huge fights over what is "good" and what isn't.
To me there are only TWO kinds of music.
1.Music written to express the composer's view of the world in a personal way
2.Music that is written to attract attention to itself and to the person singing/performing it.
I only write instrumental music. Music without words, as far as I am concerned, leaves a much wider personal interpretation open than a song does. A song is a messege. You take it or you leave it.
When I am not listening to my own music listen to:
John Barry, Jerry Goldsmith, James Horner, Elmer Bernstein, Lalo Schifrin, and hundreds of film composers.
I love jazz too. I love Bill Evans, Lee Ritenour, Bob James, Claus Ogermann, Phil Woods, etc.
I like Big Band and Classical also. Rachmaninoff is the best thing that ever happened to music. So too Prokofiev.
I don't care for Pop. I can't find a place in my soul where Rock seems to fit. Country and Western doesn't pluck my magic twanger.
But, I can listen to almost anything in any genre that is done creatively and sincerely. Good is good and there is no in between.
Bossa Nova is the most exquisite and soul-freeing music I have ever heard. It makes me want to be naked in Brazil. (That would be a great unkindness)