I am like this also. It's tricky though because I think people hear 'quality' in different ways. Some people focus on lyrics, some like cultural identity, some people are probably responding at a more 'primal' level, i.e. just to the pure energy / emotion. But I do think it is different for everybody and does bear some relation to the individual's level of musical awareness and how much time and effort they invest in cultivating their own taste. I once worked with someone who when asked "What kind of music are you into?" answered "I don't really listen to music". Shocking!

The best way I have found to find new stuff is just to listen to lots and lots of music, and follow different leads. It's hardy a chore doing so!