The black CD-Rs are supposed to be better because it absorbs light. This reduces the chance of any beam refraction from the burner, but whether or not you'll notice the difference when you burn cds? who knows...
this is the same idea as the black or dark colored cd trays within the burner itself.
and yes, as everyone has said so far there really is NO difference between a music cd-r and a data cd-r. it's just a gimmick.
as far as what brand to use for the best quality burn...I'd recommend the same brand as the company that made your cd burner. that tends to lead to the best speeds possible on your individual machine (within reason). works with my tdk anyway.
another little trick, if your cd burner has the feature, is to increase the intensity of the beam, creating a deeper impression into the cd. audiophiles swear they can hear a difference.