Kid A by Radiohead took a few years to grow on me. I wasn't used to the whole electronic thing, but I started to appreciate its sound.

Cold Roses by Ryan Adams took a while too. I loved his stuff on Gold and was not a big fan of country. But his fantastic writing persuaded me, especially in "Meadowlake Street". I related to it so much now in my life, along with a majority of the other songs, it's just crazy:
i feel like a dream that's not having
Like a nervous joke ain't nobody laughing
Like somebody with nothing 'cause they don't know
What they're wanting
Tiny like the sand in the cracks of drift wood
Washed up on the shore of an ocean of you

Adam, if you're having a hard time getting into Pavement, I think the best place to start is Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain. By far my favorite by them. I love your 5, except I've never heard of HUM. I had the pleasure of seeing Built to Spill last year. Excellent show.