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I've recently come to the realization that most criticism is ultimately futile, and for a variety of reasons:

You may face obstinacy

Some people just don't take criticism well. The evidence is there: just take a look at their kindergarten report cards. Unfortunately, the types of people who exhibit brash, offensive, or inconsiderate behavior are also the types of people who will pay no heed to your remonstrances — however well-intentioned.

You risk looking like a stuck-up snoot

Say a friend or co-worker is cracking wise on topics generally considered to be scatological or prurient. What do you do? Indicating that certain conversation is "beneath you" will only make you come across as a holier-than-thou prude. And you also run the risk of being a hypocrite if you someday tolerate — or worse, make — similar comments.

You may be wrong

When attempting to correct someone, there's always that hint of doubt that your advice is incorrect, inappropriate for that particular person, or could possibly be incorrect in the future.

You won't be giving the person the benefit of the doubt

Giving someone the benefit of the doubt is actually easy in traffic situations. If someone cuts you off or comes too close, perhaps he didn't see you, or perhaps he has a higher tolerance than you do for shorter distances between vehicles. If the car ahead of you is traveling below the speed limit or exhibiting inappropriate lane-changing behavior, then perhaps the driver is inexperienced, has low vision, is experiencing an acute illness, is bereaved, or some combination of the above.

However, giving a person the benefit of the doubt can lead to careless assumptions about a person's intelligence, or lack thereof: "Why does that lady keep bumping into me on the train, and not even apologize?" Perhaps certain motor skills are still too advanced for her small brain.

You may be overlooking cultural differences

Case in point: the mullet factor. Hispanic men are generally exempt from the "no mullets" rule and any criticism relating to mullets.

You may push someone over the edge

Any criticism on your part may be taken the wrong way and you could wind up being the contributing factor to someone's early demise.

It's difficult to make music recommendations. If only one in ten of my recommendations come to any sort of fruition, I will have considered it a success. I don't expect people to instantly enjoy the music that I recommend to them — for the same reason that I rarely "get" a band or album the first time. In fact, as I've pointed out, it may take half a decade (or longer) for me to fully appreciate albums that I acquire for myself. This slow burn is one of the reasons that I hold recorded sound in such high esteem.

I'll purposefully skip the powerhouses that should already be in your collection: The Beach Boys, The Beatles, Johnny Cash, The Smashing Pumpkins, R.E.M., Radiohead, Pink Floyd, et cetera. Here is a list that I compiled today without any premeditation:

Lost in the Woods

My Morning Jacket, Band of Horses, Midlake, Fleet Foxes, J. Tillman, Department of Eagles

Somewhat Christian but not quite

Pedro the Lion, Sufjan Stevens, Damien Jurado, Denison Witmer, Rosie Thomas

Honky tonk and alternative country

Johnny Paycheck (especially his 1960s output), George Jones, Hank Williams Sr., Ray Price, Junior Brown, Blitzen Trapper, The Jayhawks, Neko Case (sometimes)

Indie and experimental indie

Panda Bear, Animal Collective, Of Montreal, Beck, Arcade Fire, The Verve, The White Stripes, The Shins

Scottish rock

Travis, The Trash Can Sinatras, Belle and Sebastian, Camera Obscura

Church music

Composers worth rediscovering: Lorenzo Allegri, J.S. Bach, Gabriel Fauré, W.A. Mozart

Choral groups: Chanticleer, The Tallis Scholars

Dance

Air (sort of), Daft Punk, Basement Jaxx, Hot Chip, The Chemical Brothers, Caribou

Pop (in its many forms)

Weezer, Bee Gees, John Denver, Electric Light Orchestra, Michael Jackson, ABBA

Abrasive

Man Man, Death From Above 1979, Black Eyes & Neckties, Neutral Milk Hotel