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REVIEW: Badflower’s “Ok, I’m Sick” Is More Than Just Great Music, It’s Therapy

REVIEW: Badflower’s “Ok, I’m Sick” Is More Than Just Great Music, It’s Therapy

REVIEW: Badflower’s “Ok, I’m Sick” Is More Than Just Great Music, It’s Therapy

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  • REVIEW: Badflower’s “Ok, I’m Sick” Is More Than Just Great Music, It’s Therapy

I remember a couple years ago, a friend sent me a youtube link for a song called “Animal” by a band named Badflower, and I was immediately blown away. These were young, 20-something kids tackling some pretty serious subject matter full on, and had a LOT of talent.

I wanted more, I needed more…. but had to survive on small EP releases…. until today.

Two years in the making now, Badflower has been prepping for “Ok, I’m Sick,” releasing the MASSIVE single “Ghost,” followed by promotional releases of “x ANA x” and “Heroin.” And where singles can speak volumes for an album – set the tone, prep the listener for what else might be on there – I was in no way ready for what they had in store.

First of all, sonically, Badflower is very tight, and writes rock music more akin to a film score, than a couple riffs to write lyrics over. The power and subtlety from song to song, makes “OK, I’m Sick” an up-and-down ride worth getting on.

Guitarist Joey Morrow has excellent command of volume, tone, and balance, and practically sings a second melody with some of his playing. Bass player Alex Espiritu doesn’t just ride the bottom of a cord structure. He injects personality, and emotion into every string pluck. And Drummer Anthony Sonetti ties it all together – using an array of sounds and tools at his disposal, and seems to direct the emotion of each song.

But, with Katz’s vocals and subject matter, this becomes one of the best front-to-back albums I’ve heard in years.


“x ANA x” sets a chaotic tone right away. The manic mindset of the person enduring the push and pull of society, searching for some type of relief in the way of xanax. It also lays the groundwork for the entire album.

Okay, I’m sick
Not the kind of sick that lands you in the doctor
Not the kind that makes you weak and then heals you stronger
It’s the kind of sick that turns your legs into spaghetti
It’s the kind of sick that makes your blood burn and your bones heavy
The kind of sick that makes an atheist pray for Jesus
The kind of sickness that turns your power into weakness

                                                                                                         – “x ANA x”

Move to “Jester,” which speaks to craving attention and admiration, but never receiving acceptance – just looking for anyone who might care about his existence.

Is there anybody out there looking out for me?
Oh, just say you want me, just say you need me
Is there anybody out there looking out for me?
For me?
Is every last soul just fucking me over?
With tears on their shoes and ice on their shoulders
Is there anybody out there looking out for me?

                                                                            – “Jester”

And if “Jester” is the anxiety that descends into depression, then “Ghost” is rock bottom. A song very matter-of-fact about the struggles of self-harm and thoughts of suicide.

From there, it’s an anthology of stories from various mental health struggles, tackling real, raw, human emotions that all people deal with, in a stream-of-consciousness approach that many find difficult to express, but easy to understand.

Confusing and toxic relationships, loss of loved ones and youth, battling cancer, addictive obsession, and an incredible first-person narrative of abuse in “Daddy.” Katz even puts political division and vitriol out in the open with the song “Die.”

Until now, addiction, depression, anxiety, love, hate – they were subjects hidden behind colorful metaphors and similes, so bands could deliver a more “pretty” product to labels and radio.

Katz has changed that, and made mental health a conversation in music. Instead of making the listener search for meaning, he comes right out and tells you what it’s like to want to kill yourself, or to be abused, leaving people who have dealt with these feelings saying, “Yes, that’s exactly how I feel, too.”

Appropriately, as any powerful therapy session would, it ends with “Cry.”

Your throat swells, your eyes water, and you do your best to shake off the tears because you want to remain strong. But this emotional roller coaster of an album has left me drained, and inevitably, I crack – the waterworks flow. Nevermind the powerful musical ability of this band, Badflower has changed how important messages can be delivered in music.

If you can’t tell, there are parts of this record that have shaken me personally, right to my core. At least half of the songs deal specifically with emotions I’ve had, and I know I’m not the only person whose struggled with these same thoughts.

“OK, I’m Sick” is a chaotic and beautiful album, a deep therapy session, and will forever be a personal experience for me. Hopefully for many other people, too.

  – Meatball

RATING: A+

KEY TRACKS: – “Daddy”
– “Murder Game”
– “Promise Me
– “Jester”
– “Ghost”
– “x ANA x”

 

 

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