Stuck in a Rut

To avoid boredom with classical music, buy several discs of the same piece. Brahms and Tchaikovsky violin concertos are a good place to start.

An interesting feature of classical music is that you can find many recordings of some of the great pieces, and compare the style of various performers. The variation of interpretations is remarkable, and I am talking of performances which all are good, by highly regarded musicians. For example: I have five or six recordings of the Tchaikovsky violin concerto, and while I don't have time to listen to all of them at one sitting, I do enjoy playing just one movement several times as played by different artists, and reflecting on the different interpretations. This approach will open up another dimension to your musical experience.

All the above are great. Try doing a A/B comparison of Nick Drake's 'Pink Moon' to Beck's 'Sea Change' - Drake reincarnate.....30 years later. (warning: not for the already depressed). :-)

Also try these:

Jazz:
Carlton Rittenour: Larry & Lee
Miles Davis - In A Silent Way

Rock:
Lou Reed - Magic & Loss
Radiohead - Kid A

Blues:
B.B. King - Blues on the Bayou
Ronnie Earl - Guitar Virtuoso Live in Europe

Classical:
Arvo Part - Te Deum
Mahler - 1st

Ambient:
Brian Eno - Apollo
Harold Budd - The Pearl

Electronica:
Moby - Play
Patrick O'Hearn - Indigo

Great Storytelling:
Tom Waits - Mule Variations
Stan Ridgway - Mosquitos

Enjoy!
CD

Oops - could also add these epics:

The Clash - The Clash, London Calling
XTC - Nonsuch, Skylarking
Peter Gabriel - Security, Passion
Talking Heads - Fear of Music
Psychedelic Furs - Psychedelic Furs

we have similar music tastes (and i think the same zip code if that's your zip in your name...), here are some of the musicians i listen to when i need a change

this is just off of the top of my head...since i'm sitting in my cube at work and am trying to visualize my cd collection through the hum of the flourescent lights...

international music, you must try something by Fela Kuti - "Zombie," "Beast of No Nations," or "Shakara" are all great places to start. If you're not familiar w/ Fela's music, you're in for a treat - driving horns and beats - a combo of jazz, rock, reggae, protest music....just make sure you find fela and not his son, femi kuti

i find myself listening to more and more johnny cash and willie nelson - soulful country, unlike the junk on the radio today. these guys are real men.

sometimes i like to listen to some female vocals to wind down after a long day...for this, try joni mitchell "blue" or "court and spark," eva cassidy "live at blues alley," nina simone...

I've always liked schubert's 9th symphony for classical - great build up, powerful and beautiful

allman brothers "live at filmore east" really gets me pumped up, as does springsteen's "born to run"...though you probably already have those in your collection...

i'll keep thinking

one more from fela kuti - perhaps my favorite "original suffer head"

also, maybe some tom waits - start with "small change" or "blue valentine"