Bif Naked Albums (7)
'The Promise'
Release Date 4/30/2009
Tracks 13
Label International Arts
See Album Tracklist and Review
'M Essentially Naked'
Release Date 1/1/2007
Tracks 22
Label Her Royal Majesty
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
Released ten years after her debut, Superbeautifulmonster is Bif Naked's fourth album of original material. Not exactly a prolific work schedule, and her body of work isn't the most diverse, either: she's been mining an angst-ridden, confessional, metal-inflected punk-pop vein since her debut. She's stuck with the sound when it was in fashion in the mid- to late '90s as well as when it was out of fashion at the turn of the millennium, and she sticks with it in 2005, when neo-alternative rock is common, if not exactly fashionable. As they say, even a broken clock is right twice a day, and that's kind of the case with Bif Naked: she fit in when this sound was new, and she fits in again now that the sound has been revived. Of course, it helps that her lyrics are still somewhat stuck in late adolescence, whether she's writing about alienation, anger, or lust, since that arrested development gives her music a weird sense of sincerity. Musically, she's long been working power ballads and touches of metal into her alt-rock, but this isn't as big or glossy as Purge -- the music is a bit stripped-down, even when she's doing soul-searching pop like "Everyday" or anthemic rock like "Henry." At times, she can sound more like Pink than is perhaps comfortable for longtime fans, but before that impression has the chance to settle in for good, she's back to louder, tougher rock that's closer to a tuneful Courtney Love with a work ethic and sense of discipline. That doesn't mean that Superbeautifulmonster is cohesive, however. Bif Naked tries too hard to have introspective ballads, heavy rockers, and punk attitude all at once for this to really gel into a consistent LP. Nevertheless, she does have some strong songs, a palpable magnetism on record and an over-arching sincerity that makes Superbeautifulmonster ingratiating even when it doesn't quite work, or when it sounds just a little bit like it's a little bit stuck in the past. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
'Okenspay Ordway'
Release Date 1/1/2003
Tracks 34
Label Her Royal Majesty's
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
For Canadian "riot grrrl" extraordinaire Bif Naked, mixing punk, pop, and the sound du jour has become second nature. Although many dismiss her embrace of more accessible forms of punk as selling out, she's out to prove that it's more a result of her growth as both a songwriter and an individual. With each album, she seems to get more comfortable opening up musically and emotionally, and Purge is no exception. With the album's prevailing theme of self-empowerment, Bif Naked walks a fine line between wanting more and having enough. On songs like "Tango Shoes" and "I Love Myself Today" (the latter being co-written by über-producer Desmond Child), Naked is bold, self-assured, and optimistic. On "October Song" and "You Are the Master," she explores her humility while searching for acceptance and guidance. She leaves a lasting impression with the album's final song, "Religion," exposing a raw sincerity while singing "I am naked before you. Look at me." Musically, Purge soars. It's a polished and more realized update of the raw and energetic sounds that made Naked's previous releases so enjoyable. The album does have some slower moments, but they are neatly slipped between the large helping of all-out rockers. Combining slick songwriting with a set of some of her most honest and self-explorative lyrics to-date, Bif Naked intrigues and entertains with a worthy follow-up to I Bificus. ~ Don Kline, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
If you buy this one on the basis of the video for "Moment of Weakness," you'll be surprised by a couple of things: first, that Bif's stylistic range embraces much more than that song's tightly constructed pop-punk roar; second that "I Died" and "Spaceman" are both plain old anthemic guitar rock; third, that "Lucky" is a low-key and gently cathartic ballad; and finally, that "Chotee" is old-school, three-chord punk in the tradition of the Ramones. Another surprising element is her seriousness. The exuberantly goofy persona she exhibits on talk shows and in the "Moment of Weakness" video is not evident on any of these songs (though it raises its cockeyed head repeatedly throughout the handwritten liner notes). Her topics -- which include a failed marriage, extraterrestrials who never come to abduct her even though she's ready and waiting, and her own straight-edge (i.e.drug-free) lifestyle -- are generally dealt with quite earnestly, if not terribly deeply. The final product is really very good, though few other songs approach the perfect disposability of the single. ~ Rick Anderson, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Brash and attitudinal is the vibe on Bif Naked's 1996 self-titled release. The New Jersey native comes across as part goth, part skateboard punk with a sneer in her voice and a chip on her shoulder. It's a mix that suits her well from "Make Like a Tree," with its insistent demand of "leave me alone," to the closing spoken-word observations of "The Gross Gross Man." In between, there are a few surprises, which makes this record a bit more worthwhile than the average angry, young woman fare. "Daddy's Getting Married" is a wry take on a broken home that is less in your face and more effective. The piano-based "Tell On You" seethes with anger, but never surrenders its dignity as she lyrically confronts a rapist. There's also the sensual Generation X love song "Succulent" sung over a funky beat. Lastly, Bif Naked serves up a cool twist on "My Bike," a come-on song sung to her dirt bike. ~ Tom Demalon, All Music Guide
