So many times, the mere suggestion of a new musical artist has sparked an immense defensive surge in me. I'll politely nod when told of his/her merits that in theory I ought to respond to, but in private I try to determine who I already know who's likely to be better than this as-of-yet unknown artist. I'm not sure if that's my way of telling myself that I possess some sort of deep musical knowledge, because that is just criminally wrong.