I'm such a wimp when it comes to exploring pop music I don't know. This great idea helps a bit: about 100 leading pop musicians recommend their all-time favorite artists and albums, and why they love them. The unfamiliar (to me) names that come up again and again are the ones I'm looking for. The best aspect of this approach is that one can glimpse something rare--artists talking about their musical influences. Who wouldn't want to study the record collection of say, Herbie Hancock, or Pat Metheny?