[deltron3030]

>If not, what is?

Follow your current taste, and go backwards from there. What are the influences of the musicians and groups you like? What are the influences of their influences? This is how most people I know, including myself discovered music.

[52-6F-62]

This is the approach I'd recommend, too. It's a far lower barrier of entry than the countless tomes people are recommending, too.

Go down the rabbit hole.