LA alternative band Badflower delivers an energetic, anxiety-driven single on “X ANA X,” the second advance single from their 2019 debut album, ‘OK, I’M SICK.’ 

“I can’t feel my toes or my fingertips / My chest if pounding so fast I can’t keep up with it / I’m losing it – fuck! I just want to quit it.” Frontman Josh Katz and Badflower are in a bad spot to say the least, thanks to “X ANA x” (a stylization of ‘Xanax,’ the sedative). The Los Angeles band, comprised of Katz, Joey Morrow, Alex Espiritu, and Anthony Sonetti, releases their full-length, debut album, OK, I’M SICK, in February 2019.  “X ANA x” serves as the incredibly colorful second advance single from the project, following “Ghost.”

Clearly, the effects of anxiety (and the Xanax as well), have Katz down.  He’s profane, dropping multiple f-bombs, as he suffers. Notably, Katz emphasizes the ‘ANA’ portion of the word, Almost approaching Xanax like it’s a relationship.  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, throughout the course of the song, reflect Katz’s anxiety, while the high-energy, instrumental backdrop also matches the anxiousness.  As the song continues, the listener is invited more and more 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

I’m sick of being sick for this whole fucking place to witness

And I’m living a sick life that most people call privilege

And they’re kinda right

But I’m still sicker than I can cope with.”

Final Thoughts

Badflower seems to be on an upward trajectory by all means.  “X ANA x” is an energetic, honest, and well-rounded single that goes beyond the traditional script.  Josh Katz definitely has the personality to sell this anxiety-driven single superbly. 

Badflower » OK, I’M SICK » Big Machine / John Varvatos » Release: 2.22.19

Photo Credits: Big Machine / John Varvatos