I post a lot of music in “What are you currently listening” thread because I am almost permanently listening to music at work, and some things I like to the point I feel like sharing in case it reaches at least another person’s heart.
I wouldn’t say it has to be gold for me to post there. I just like it. At least partially, because I only listen to albums, rarely single tracks.
There is something about context to appreciate music. Listening to an ambient track while in a hurry is like putting some ketchup on oysters. It will feel like crap, whatever your effort to appreciate it.
And listening to an electro punk banger while turning to sleep is the same nonsense.
Plus there’s the cultural aspect: before 2014 every single piece of techno was shit to me, because I had always kept the door shut to any little piece of comprehension. Then playing with my Elektron opened my mind, I now know what I like.
In the vast ocean of music produced today, you have to accept that you’re a newbie for a good part of it, even if you’ve been listening to music your whole life.
Only permanent training/research for new sounds can let your ear appreciate other kinds of music, imo.
And there are so many experimental obscure music I genuinely enjoy now! Not as much as I would enjoy Radiohead back in the days, but enough to bring me joy or other feelings, and capture my attention or surprise me in a good way. And that’s all I need, when I listen to music.
I’m not looking for any kind of perfection, only to be surprised in a good way I’d say. If I listen to an album more than 5 times, I end buying it.