Music is very important to me. Currently, I own over 400 8-Track tapes, over 50 cassette tapes, over 50 LPs, 200 45s, and 200 CDs.
Music is a form of expression, not unlike poetry. It provides release for the artist, and it provides insight to the listener, either by lyrics or by the music itself. Good music, when listened to intently, causes the listener to feel the same conflict and release that the artist felt while writing it.
Of course, not all modern artists are as good at making music as others. In fact, much of the redundant pop music today is rubbish. The lyrics are redundant as are the tunes. Such music is not my preference, but, sadly, is what the radio stations tend to play.
I do, however, admire good artists, who write good ballads or otherwise show talent in composing good lyrics and tunes. I believe modern secular music to be today's poetry and also entertainment. Like any entertainment, caution needs to be exercised when listening to secular music.
However, I do believe that an artist's good talent can be admired without endorsing a lifestyle, not unlike a Michael Jordan fan admires Michael Jordan's tremendous talent for basketball, yet may not agree with how he spends his weekends.
See my page on Upper Bucks Christian School and music standards.
My favorite artist is Billy Joel. Billy Joel composes his own music and lyrics to go with it.
Billy's music is not redundant and provides insight into his personal experiences, through which he has had many. While his insight is by no means a Bible to me, he has a song depicting most any situation I am in and listening to someone else's thoughts helps me to take my mind above the situation and examine it with a clear head. Many times Billy can say just what I wanted to say but couldn't find the right way to put it. Quality music like this takes a talented artist. Billy pours years into each album -- he does not bang a new one out each month, and he is not in the business just to make a buck.
See Dan's "Billy Joel Therapeutic Lyrics Page"
Lately, I have found music by the Barenaked Ladies to be very fitting to my taste as well. Again, their lyrics are thought provocing and their music is upbeat. Their songs tend to present life in a realistic yet humourous fashion.
Besides those mentioned, I like any artist the can write insightful lyrics with a good complimenting tune. I do NOT like instrumental music. There is nothing wrong with it, but it is not my preference. Consequently, classical music is out.
Another artist I like is "Weird Al" Yankovic. This music is more entertainment than insightful, but clearly Al has his talent here, as he writes parodies for other people's music.
However, my music collection represents a much broader taste than my own, since much of it was acquired at flea markets and yard sales, since I collect 8-track tapes.