is there a cd-r media ranking website?
 

you know, where it shows you the most reliable, dependable brand(s). i would like to purchase the best one(s) out there.

There is no "best" media. It is different for different people. Some have good results with a particular brand while others don't. I would get some Verbatim. You can't really go wrong with them.

indeed the metal azo based discs generally boot without problems, but as Bighap pointed put, it does depend on your combination of hardware as to whether or not these will work for you.