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.