Search - Biff Rose :: The Thorn In Mrs. Rose's Side/Children Of Light

Biff Rose
The Thorn In Mrs. Rose's Side/Children Of Light
Genres: Folk, Pop, Rock

Track Listings (24) - Disc #1
1. Mama's Boy
2. Angel Tension
3. Fill Your Heart
4. Paradise Almost Lost (Poem)
5. Molly
6. The Stars
7. It's Happening
8. What's Gnawing At Me
9. Buzz The Fuzz
10. Gentle People
11. The Man
12. Ain't No Great Day
13. Communist Sympathizer
14. Evolution
15. Just Like A Man
16. American Waltz
17. Son in Moon
18. Children Of Light
19. Ballad Of Cliches
20. To Baby
21. Color Blind Blues
22. Spaced Out / I've Got You Covered
23. Take Care Of My Brother (Bonus Track)
24. Myrtle's Pies (Bonus Track)

CD Details

All Artists: Biff Rose
Title: The Thorn In Mrs. Rose's Side/Children Of Light
Members Wishing: 5
Total Copies: 0
Label: Water
Original Release Date: 1/1/2005
Re-Release Date: 3/16/2006
Genres: Folk, Pop, Rock
Style: Singer-Songwriters
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 646315716122

Synopsis

Album Description

A cult hero to many of new 'weird folk's' heavy hitters including Devendra Banhart, Biff Rose was an odd singer/songwriter who didn't fit into any comfortable niche when he emerged in the late 1960s. Often sounding like a Broadway songwriter with his jaunty piano and bouncy singalong melodies, the New Orleans pianist was like a vaudeville entertainer reincarnated as a spacy hippie. He added an arch, whimsical tone and sarcastic, ironic undercurrents to his songs that both reflected and mocked the counterculture, much like fellow musician and sometime collaborator, Van Dyke Parks. Highly revered by David Bowie, who covered the Biff Rose songs 'Fill Your Heart' (co-written by Paul Williams) on his Hunky Dory album and 'Buzz The Fuzz' in live performances. Rose also achieved some notoriety in the late 60's via network television appearances, particularly on Johnny Carson's show. Devendra Banhart probably states it best in his own inimitable way when he writes: 'Biff Rose writes and sings from the heart of the universe...he is the good earth gently stomped upwards, and while I don't mean he, his music is a hermaphrodite child from wisdonville.' We couldn't have said it better. Water Records. 2005.

CD Reviews

Tears Of A Clown

Mike B. | 03/21/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Biff Rose is truly a one-of-a-kind artist. I can't think of anyone else that even remotely resembles him. But let me try. For older readers of this review, he's a little like very early Randy Newman. Others may be reminded of folk artist Tom Paxton (if he didn't play guitar). He's sort of a free-spirit hippie "beat" poet. His arrangements and song structures are as off-kilter as sometime collaborator Van Dyke Parks. For younger readers, he's a little like Daniel Johnston. Whimsical and silly - but more clever and witty. In yet other ways, he's like an observational comedian. If George Carlin could sing and play piano...

His songs are frequently funny, but they all have an underlying sadness about them. This melancholy/manic depressive quality is manifest on all his albums. Biff's piano playing is also unusual. It wouldn't be out of place at a carnival, a New Orleans speakeasy, or as silent film accompaniment. A reviewer once compared it to a Beatles song, calling it "clumpy 'Martha, My Dear' piano". He plays in fits and starts, sometimes continuously plunking one note, sometimes no notes at all, and other times executing runs and trills worthy of Jerry Lee Lewis. Some songs are solo piano, while others feature full orchestral string arrangements.

These two albums are his best, particularly "Children of Light". The follow-up "Biff Rose" (1970) is a good one, and I'm especially fond of his 1972 "live" record "Uncle Jesus/Aunty Christ". By the time he released "Roast Beef" (1978), the sadness overwhelmed the humor. Once sharp and satirical, his songwriting had devolved into nonsensical cosmic babble.

Still - back when he was good he was great. If you'd like to try something different, you may want to check this out."

Biff Rose

J. Alessi | Chicago, Il | 06/04/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Biff Rose is one of the most gifted musicians and writers. This cd is fantastic. He can make you laugh, cry, and think. Not many artists can do that."