The much anticipated second album from this Californian rock band, who were named Apple Music's band of the week for their EP Temper in 2016. They really broke out with their debut album Ok, I'm Sick in 2019 - although they'd been raising their profile by touring rock events around the world in the run up to it's release having been signed by a major label in 2015.

 

They've since had 3 hits on the US Rock chart and 7 hits, including 2 No 1s (Heroin and The Jester) on the US Mainstream Rock Chart.

 

Family is a powerfully dark song - as is Badflowers forte - about the a family breaking down with the protagonist blaming himself for all the issues going on.

 

They've released 3 singles recently in the lead up to the album.

 

 

Don't Hate Me picks up where Family left off with the 'Don't Hate Me' hook used in the closing salvos of family now made into a song of it's own about struggling with depression and self-loathing.

 

 

The most recent song is a complete switch-up for the band with a song about cheating with a good friends girlfriend and the friend getting angry, but the target of his anger not giving a crap and goading on the fight. It's a much more mainstream sounding song with a pop-punky feel but more interesting because it expresses much more self-confidence lyrically than anything else I've heard from Badflower, maybe this album will be the switch from what made them catch the eye of the rock world on OK, I'm Sick to a more mainstream sound with traditional lyrical content. Let's hope they don't lose too much of what makes them so interesting through that.

 

I’m obsessed with Badflower, there first album was amazing so looking forward to this too

Anyone listened to this. So far, I reckon it's good but not outstanding.

 

On first listen I'm finding it a bit patchy, the songs themselves alright but it seems to miss the truly stop you in your tracks effect that Ok, I'm Sick had for me aside from Tethered and My Funeral which all sound like they could have been on the first album - so does Machine Gun (and Family and Don't Hate Me from the singles) . It's probably unfair to put that expectation on it though, I'm aware. There's just a slightly self indulgent feeling to the opening tracks on this album.

 

Stalker is absolutely hilarious as is f***boi, unsuprisingly Don't Hate Me, Family and Johnny Wants to Fight are among the best tracks on the album - that's what lead singles are for.

 

I think the musical tone of the album needs addressing to, there's a very Postal Service (and similar bands of that ilk) feeling to the music itself on a lot of the songs - more indie in tone than rock, which is clearly a much softer tone than on Ok , I'm Sick. Although of course that's not on every song, there's still heavier songs on then, but I think weirdly the softer music actually hits much better.