Los Angeles alternative rock band Badflower showcase ample potential throughout their highly-anticipated debut album, OK, I’M SICK.

After reviewing three out of the four advance singles from OK, I’M SICK, the debut album by Badflower, I was totally stoked for the album’s release.  Who is Badflower? They’re a Los Angeles alternative rock band comprised of Josh Katz (the frontman), Joey Morrow, Alex Espiritu, and Anthony Sonetti. Throughout the course of this 55-minute affair, Katz and company showcase ample potential, striking gold in many instances.

“x Ana x” 

“I can’t feel my toes or my fingertips / My chest is pounding so fast I can’t keep up with it / I’m losing it – fuck! I just want to quit it.” ✓ 🤩 “x ANA x” (a stylization of ‘Xanax’), finds Josh Katz in a bad spot. The effects of anxiety (and Xanax), have Katz down.  He’s profane, dropping multiple f-bombs as he suffers. Notably, he almost approaches Xanax like it’s a relationship (‘ANA’).  On the first verse, he memorably states, “Judging my fucking sex ANA x ANA x / And I’m faking just to stay in my body / I’m nervous, I can’t fucking stand it.” The lyrics reflect Katz’s anxiety, while the high-energy, instrumental backdrop also matches the anxiousness.  As the song continues, the listener is invited deeper into the suspect mindset of the protagonist, particularly at the end of the second verse.

“The kind of sick that makes an atheist pray for Jesus
The kind of sickness that turns your power into weakness…
And I’m living a sick life that most people call privilege…”

Ultimately, “x ANA x” is energetic, honest, and well-rounded, transcending the traditional script. “The Jester” has a tough act to follow but manages to live up to the task. Like the song it precedes, “The Jester” is successful thanks to clever lyrics that incorporate anxiety, victimization, as well as another high-energy performance from Katz.  After a relatively poised start, eventually, “The Jester” goes full throttle, most notably on the chorus.

“Ghost” 

“I tried it once before I didn’t get too far / I felt a lot of pain, but it didn’t stop my heart / And all I really wanted was someone to give a little fuck / But I waited there forever, and nobody even looked up.”  On ✓ “Ghost”, Badflower depicts a morbid topic – suicide.  For the majority of the record, the protagonist is unable to complete the suicide, despite multiple attempts.  The depressed lyrics are clearly jarring. Katz continues to discuss suicide on the second verse, which is half the length of the first.  On the chorus, he’s dramatic about how suicide “won’t end the pain.” Despite seeming to avoid completion for the majority of the song, at the end, he’s successful, admitting, “I think I went too far… / I cut a little deeper and the pressure stopped my heart.”  In addition to distinct, emotional lyrics and subject matter, the sound of the record is awesome, featuring a dark, angst-laden backdrop, led by the guitars.

“We’re in Love” maintains the excellence of OK, I’M SICK without a hitch.  Featuring cool, calm, and collected vocals from the onset, there’s always the sense Josh Katz is going to ascend to the next level.  Eventually it happens, propelled by the jagged, rhythmic guitars, pummeling drums, and dramatic, over-the-top lyrics.  By the end, the final chorus, and reiterated during the outro, the bombs fly – “The light’s out, so fucking emasculate me!”

“Promise Me”

On ✓ “Promise Me,” the fourth and final advance single, Katz laments getting older, referencing growing up, wrinkles, and of course, death.  At the same time, there are elements of love and fading love are also incorporated into the mix. There’s plenty of layers and depth as Badflower’s theme is common and relatable, particularly transitioning from youth to adulthood and beyond.  Still, the band still has their feet planted in a sound easily associated with tortured, angst-laden youth.

“You promised me you’d never grow up
But you fucking grew up
God, I miss you so much
And even when your heart gave out
I was thinkin’ I’d
Love you ‘til forever, and I can’t face the truth.”

✓ “Daddy” is nothing short of chilling, period.  Here, Katz imparts a tale of a girl being sexually abused by the man who should be her role model and protector, her father.  Disturbing, give Badflower credit for tackling such difficult, yet authentic subject matter.  Perhaps the bridge is a bit far-fetched – “And Daddy lay sick on the hospital bed / She creeps in the room with a bag in her hand / And smothers the face of a terrible man” – but at the same time, its captures the emotions felt by a totally wronged little girl who didn’t deserve such treatment.  Things seem to be suspect once more on “24,” where Katz characterizes himself a total loser, for a variety of reasons. It’s miserable, but, at the same time, that’s part of the charm of this particular record and OK, I’M SICK itself. 

“Heroin”

✓ “Heroin” initiates enigmatically, with an intimate, somewhat indulgent sound.  This is a brilliant sense of ‘tone poem’ because one associates a relationship as being intimate, and the same can be said of the experience with an addictive drug. After maintaining poise throughout the first verse (“She’s in my bed again / She marks her fingerprints in my skin / I breathe her perfume in / It burns like heroin”), Katz and company ‘go in’ on the dynamic chorus, with its souped-up guitars and robust bass line. Badflower brings things back down on the second verse, as well as the bridge. The final chorus doesn’t reach the same grandiose nature of previous iterations, in effect highlighting the devastating effects of the ‘heroin.’

“Die” tackles a topic running rampant in music as of late – politics.  Clearly, Badflower aren’t onboard with President Donald Trump, criticizing his ineptness regarding, well, just about everything.  Unsurprisingly, there are ample “Fuck you(s)” issued, with none bigger than the one arriving on the bridge: “Fuck you, Donnie boy!” “Murder Games” maintains the ‘morbid’ tone of OK, I’M SICK, but instead of human death for a number of reasons, the band focuses on the slaughter of animals.  Even with the focus being on “cutting the testicles out of baby pigs when they’re born” and such, there also seems to be a layer regarding how mankind treats each other.

“Girlfriend”

One of the very best records from OK, I’M SICK doesn’t arrive until the 11^th track. ✓ “Girlfriend” is funky to the nth degree, in the most alternative-rock way possible.  Here, Katz makes someone he’s checking out online his girlfriend without ever meeting or ultimately, building a relationship.  Perhaps it’s exaggerated for effect, but again, it’s not far-fetched, particularly with the millennials and even younger generations.  There’s an element of hilarity, as well as an element of truth.

“I wanna see you shaking in your boots
Sucking on your fingers to the music I made
So, you could fuck me
It’s a fantasy, probably, but honestly, I can’t shake it…”

Lyrics continue to be the calling card for Badflower on the penultimate cut, “Wide Eyes.”  Turned up once more on the chorus, following the poise of the verse, “Wide Eyes” plays true to the script the band has established throughout OK, I’M SICK.  The lengthiest record (six-and-a-half minutes) closes out the LP, “Cry.” “Cry” thrives in its minor key, beginning enigmatically before eventually picking up steam.  The vibe is the biggest selling point of the closer.

Final Thoughts

All in all, OK, I’M SICK is an enjoyable, well-rounded debut album by Badflower.  The band does a respectable job balancing out the serious, the outlandish, and tortured, youthful angst.  Calling this the ‘perfect album’ would be an overstatement – it runs a bit long, even at 55 minutes – but there’s plenty to love.  Furthermore, Badflower has plenty to build upon in the future – ample potential by all means.  

✓ Gems: “x Ana x,” “Ghost,” “Promise Me,” “Daddy,” “Heroin” & “Girlfriend” 

Badflower • OK, I’M SICK • Big Machine • Release: 2.22.19

Photo Credit: Big Machine