I've lately noticed (or renoticed, it should be) that I've taken to using music as wallpaper to read to. It came to me that that's why I've stopped really liking some of it. Usually I use classical for that purpose and it's become this sort of hold music.
Appreciating art (in the widest sense) is all about focusing attention, in my experience. That's why literature is *somewhat* immune to becoming ambience - because you have to read it. Whereas a painting you can see even if you're not looking, and music you can hear if you're not listening. When I'm stoned I have a much greater appreciation of art and music, because it heightens my senses and makes me focus. Whereas when I READ stoned (unless it's a very short poem, e.g.), I can't concentrate because I start focusing on every single little detail and the bigger "picture" breaks apart.
I guess if you're going to use music to read to, it might as well be bland music, because using interesting music to do it is either going to fuck up your reading or do the music an injustice.