Description: Criminal Records466 Moreland Ave
Wax 'n Facts432 Moreland Ave
I was sort of disgusted by the readership of Creative Loafing when I read the newspaper’s Best of Atlanta 2006 list: The editors opted for local businesses, but the reader’s poll named
Best Buy as the best record store in Atlanta. After visiting Wax & Facts and Criminal, both within a block of each other in Little Five Points, I understood what they were getting at. Both places have a well-chosen but ultimately tiny selection, heavy on indie-flavored rock, most of which is stored out of customer’s reach, in locked cabinets or behind the counter. I found the latest National album at both, but neither had any of their back releases, even though the band had played a pretty good-sized Atlanta venue in the last couple of weeks. Criminal gave over most of its meager square footage to comics, plus a smattering of books and toys, rather than CDs, resulting in mediocre offerings on all fronts. For those who are familiar with Boston, imagine the breadth and randomness of Newbury Comics’ inventory, but without the real estate to do any of it justice. Prices were neither super-high or remarkably low. Criminal has the slight edge on prices – browse at both (they’re both, for all their shortcomings, good for that) but save about a buck a disc by shopping there.
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