I didn't expect to like Bif Naked. In fact, I didn't really want to giver her music a chance. I'm still not sure why. Maybe it was her look; my prejudgment was that she was an abrasive punk rocker with a bad attitude and a worse sound. One day, however, I was feeling particularly jaded and thought she looked like she could give me the music suitable for my mood.

What I found was that I was hooked after just a few songs.

Bif Naked's album I Bificus is an intense, energetic and complex album. Her songs range from sarcastic-and-witty to tender to loud-and-brash to controversial-and-intelligent. She is a unique individual with a unique sound that mixes punk, rock and a twist of an element only Bif can create. She is a hard, tough looking woman on the outside but, as anyone who has ever heard her speak or read an interview knows, is quirky, immensely creative, incredibly talented and thoughtful.

Her sound is what I think can be called meditative punk. The lyrics are thoughtful, sensitive and layered, but maintain a hard rock punk sound that keeps the music driven and intense. There isn't much to NOT like on this album. There is most certainly something for everyone, and it is simply an enjoyable album to listen to.

The most important thing I learned from Bif Naked's I Bificus CD is that image is a small part of who you are and what you have to offer.

If you check out the CD be sure to keep your mind open along with your ears. The lesson of not judging books by their covers is an especially important one to keep in mind when picking out music or contemplating listening to a new artist. It is easy to be pleasantly surprised, and I hope if anyone listens to this CD they are as pleasantly surprised as I was.