If you were worried -- don't.

Despite America's wholehearted embrace of her, despite fashion layouts and high-profile appearances on The Tonight Show, The Chris Isaak Show and Politically Incorrect, we will never lose our raunchy rock punk princess Bif Naked to the cult of U.S. celebrity.

Why? Thank the Sedin twins and all of their mates.

"I think the people who get swallowed up by all the trappings of celebrity clearly are not hockey fans, I think that's the big difference," Bif says.

"Because I believe in the Vancouver Canucks to this day. I keep the light burning in my window for that (blank-ing) team ... that's why I'm grounded."

If you needed proof other than her love of the puck, all you have to do is check out her latest CD, Purge.

The album picks up where her breakthrough 1998 release I Bificus left off.

Crunchy guitars, poppy melodies, sincere societal lyrics -- it's pure Bif.

"Good," says the vocalist who performs at the Back Alley Monday night.

"That's terrific news. I wouldn't want anyone to think that I was mellowing too much or getting too hard or -- I don't know.

"I hope I'm evolving as a human and hopefully that carries over (into the music) and I hope I'm a better singer."

When the album's released in the U.S. early next year, it should increase her profile south of the border.

When it does, just remember, the talk shows, the magazine layouts, the film offers -- Bif keeps it all in perspective. "Doing shows like Politically Incorrect, that's just a perk of the job. I can't believe that Bill Maher has ever even heard of me, never mind he's a fan -- that's insane," she says.

"But I still hang out with the friends I hung out with 10 years ago ... and the thrill of my life is singing on the new D.O.A. record. I was nervous, I was totally nervous.

"I mean Joe Keithley ... that's cool. I feel like I'm finally cool."