J & R Music World

Contributor

Citysearch

The Scene
They've got all the ambience of a factory outlet--both stores seem accidentally decorated, with yellow wood panelling, cylindrical lighting and leftover neon. They're playing Miles Davis, Counting Crows, Bob Marley and Marc Anthony, depending on the store and floor. The music is smothered, however, by J&R's mall-cum-loading-dock environment.

The Goods
The pop, jazz and classical store has everything issued by the major labels, all displayed alphabetically in crowded bins. The countless titles make you realize the breadth of pop's mainstream appeal. Rock still rules, but Nashville, Broadway, and the 'hood are more than adequately represented. Greatest hits, popular collections and box sets are also available, and a quarter of one floor is sectioned off for cassettes only. The world and Latin store offers Asian, Irish/Celtic and Middle Eastern selections in the basement; reggae, soca, calypso and African music is on the street level and Latin, Brazilian and South American offerings are on the upper level. Each floor has a breathtaking comprehensiveness given the limited space and the niche-market nature of the music offered here.