SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: BIF NAKED – CHAMPION

BIF NAKED
CHAMPION
HER ROYAL MAJESTY’S RECORDS

Champion is Bif Naked’s first album in 15 years (her last album The Promise was released in 2009) and the time between albums has not slowed her down one bit. Naked has returned with a powerful, hard-hitting and hard-rocking album. Champion is the Bif Naked album fans have not only waited for but expected. She has a tight band and excellent producers who bring her music to life. Much of the album was co-written and produced with bassist Doug Fury. However, Champion is Bif Naked’s album. It is a personal, reflective and at times a little bit challenging album. Naked is not afraid to stir it up, musically and lyrically, and she does so on Champion.

The album opens with “Jim”. “You never loved me Jim”, Naked sings. She follows this with “Fill me with rage” later in the song. This sums up Champion. This is an angry album full of emotion, honesty and energy. But along with anger is sadness as well. She is able to dial into all of these emotions and feelings. She doesn’t pull any punches with her lyrics or her music. Just when you think the music and vocals can’t be more aggressive, she ends the album with the blistering “Stay In Your Lane”. However, she does come up with some big surprises, such as “Broke Into Your Car”, which is more restrained and has a 1980s synth vibe going on. It’s a great song with humorous lyrics.

One of Naked’s strengths, which is very evident on Champion, is her ability to switch gears musically. This album is not just straight-ahead rock. There are beautiful ballads, such as the wonderful “Never No Never” and the moving “Sweetpea”. She is not out of her comfort zone and moves from each style effortlessly. Elsewhere songs like “Snowblinded” pop up, and it begins with a much more experimental sound before launching into buzzing guitars. And “Rollerdome” that, again, makes great use of synthesizers to push the song along. Finally, “Heavy” is not as heavy as one would assume. In fact, it is a straighter rock song, which makes great use of percussion and drums, courtesy of Chico Misomali. It is also worth noting that the stream version of the album features three remixes that are really worth the time and effort, especially the ‘March Of Freaks Remix’ of the title track, “Champion”.

Bif Naked is a remarkable artist who has accomplished a great deal in her career and life. Battling breast cancer a few years back did not sideline her, and she has also embarked on an acting career and written her autobiography. While she succeeds in those endeavors, on Champion, she returns to what she does best, rock ‘n’ roll. Angry, fist pumping, adrenaline driving rock ‘n’ roll. She tackles subjects honestly and with a great deal of emotion and passion. The production is perfect for the music and as a result it sounds fantastic. Naked’s vocals are powerful and clear. Champions is an excellent album and welcomed return by an artist who continues to write and record brilliant albums in her own distinct style. The time away from making albums may have helped as Champions is no different and as such one of her strongest albums.

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