The Thorn In Mrs. Rose's Side/Children Of Light

Biff Rose

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 16, 2006)
• Original Release Date: September 20, 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Water
• ASIN: B000AA4K8S
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #124,914 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Product 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.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tears Of A Clown, March 21, 2008

By	Mike B. - See all my reviews

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.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good material with sonic anomalies, October 18, 2005

By	Wizzy - See all my reviews

There are some great songs on this CD. Biff Rose's best known song, "Fill Your Heart" is included, of course, but several others are just as good if not better: "What's Gnawing at Me," "Just Like a Man," and "Mama Told Me," to name just a few. The downside for me is that this CD is mastered from vinyl, and not great vinyl at that. There are frequent pops and clicks and occasional loud distortion. I presume this is the best the label could do as the design and packaging are lovingly prepared, but it is still a disappointment.

5.0 out of 5 stars Biff Rose, June 3, 2009

By	J. Alessi (Chicago, Il) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.