Sorry, I just had to coup the Thread Title!

I first heard him through that Emerson Quartet's album 'American Contemporaries' (which is, frankly, quite a slog, no?), and, though I know his music is broken down into multiple movements with titles like 'Aria', I so disliked that whole album I couldn't tell you what it sounded like, beyond of course the Modern American pedigree.
I also have the Blomstedt album of Sessions and Harbison, containg his Second Symphony and Oboe Converto. These again are broken down into fairly Neo-Classical movement headings (I believe there's another 'Aria'), and, as I recall, these pieces pose no problems (especially with such a fine presentation!@).
Frankly, the guy with his 'stache, just reminds me of Kevin Costner or something, just such a University Professor cool guy, who wins prizes but doesn't end up in the Library.
What am I missing? (not going to be into vocal works like
Flight Into Egypt)