Mike Bennett wrote:
"Does anyone else have this happen -- a first impression so bad that you have a hard time ever getting back to the artist's music -- Yo La Tengo and Nick 
Cave are two other artists who immediately come to mind for me..."

Great question Mike.  I clearly remember that when I heard the first Smiths album, I absolutely hated it.  I even referred to Morrissey as "Lettuce Head" due to both his strident vegetarianism and simply because I thought he was an insipid whiner.  It took a while, but with a few more albums and Johnny Marr's melodies, I really began to appreciate the band.  And I now really enjoy both the sharp attack and the droll humor in Morrissey's lyrics.   

Mark