hapless old guy's music purchases

**Jim Schnobrich** · 06-18-2012, 11:09 AM

I don't buy very many CDs anymore. I spend more time listening to podcasts and using subscription services for music. There are, however, new CDs from The Smashing Pumpkins, R. Kelly, and The-Dream coming out that I most definitely will be buying.

**Chris Jones** · 06-18-2012, 11:37 AM

Originally Posted by ConnorHawke

What are some of the albums you're into this year? I'd love any recommendations.

You've come to the right place!

My unarguable favorite album this year has been BBU's Bell Hooks. It's synthy hip-hop with a militantly pro queer/pro POC lyrical viewpoint that's pretty refreshing. They also have a pretty hilarious gag where they have a rapper named Mr. Goodbar quit the game and then come out of retirement within the span of about 20 minutes. It's honestly one of my favorite hip-hop albums ever.

Rapper Honors English also had a fantastic debut with State of the Art, which is anthemic, personal and even kind of proggy at points with the way he switches up rhythms and has a couple of songs with distinct "movements." Tell Ya Friends by Chip tha Ripper is pretty bloated but most of the songs have killer beats and his delivery is immaculate. Lecrae's Church Clothes is that rare, quality "Christian" album-it's mostly about reconciling his view of himself as a man of God with a Christian culture that's rife with hypocrisy.

Non-mixtape wise I have a lot less expertise, but Future This by The Big Pink was a lot of fun, kind of a modern-day Pet Shop Boys album, and Air's La voyage dans la lune, despite being pretty heavily panned, was (I thought) an enjoyable, relaxing way to enjoy half an hour.