Introduction: in the ear of the beholder. The rise and rebirth of the savage beast -- A gift of the gods. Under the musical hood: an orientation ; Melody: the face of music ; Interlude A: the evolution of musical taste: music and anthropology -- Bar bands in Andromeda. Harmony: the internal body of music ; Rhythm: the movement of music ; Interlude B: it's the overtones, stupide: music, math, and physics -- Unity and heterogeneity. Form: the shape of music ; Sound: the personality of music ; Interlude C: the singing cerebrum: music and the brain -- Musical metaphors. The musical genotype ; The pop genotype ; Interlude D: at the cellular level: music and cell biology -- Parlez-vous gamelan?. The rock genotype ; The jazz genotype ; Interlude E: listening with an accent: culture and musical taste -- Questioning the omnivore. The hip hop genotype ; The electronica (EDM) genotype ; Interlude F: staking your claim: intraculture and musical taste -- Who are you, anyway?. The world music genotype ; The classical genotype ; Interlude G: mind over music: psychology and musical taste -- Your hit parade. The what and why of musical taste ; Epilogue: living with music.