SIMS

Bad Time Zoo

myspace.com/sims

On his sophomore album, Minneapolis hip-hopper Sims celebrates successes personal (“LMG”) and professional (“Good Times”), while still finding plenty to get riled up about. Taking full advantage of producer Lazerbeak’s plethora of sounds—horn samples, reggae riddims and even noodling electric guitar—the MC born Andrew Sims blasts materialistic mainstream rappers and modern consumer culture. He’s a nimble rhymer who can get political without sounding preachy. On “One Dimensional Man” he shows his humorous side, dissing supposed do-gooders who join food co-ops and donate to NPR. The key song title here is “Sink or Syncopate”—come what may, Sims seems too clever and hopeful to let himself go under.