HEAR THIS: Bettie Serveert
Photo by: Mark Bakker
Marking off 25 years since their debut Palomine, Bettie Serveert, the little indie band that could, is now a Dutch institution and their latest LP Damaged Good has been granted a stateside release, thanks to North Carolina’s Schoolkids Records. Sticking to their strengths, the LP features pounding songs shot through with emotional churn. While their profile here has ebbed and flowed over the years, they kept at it sans the drama of many of their ’90’s peers, and through all the industry changes, have refused to quit and have maintained 3 of their original 4 members. The fleeting “Brick Wall” causes a ripple beyond its just over a minute run time and at the other extreme, “Digital Sin” carries its eight minute length with grace never overstaying its welcome. The hooky “Whatever Happens” captures the power of the current-day Betties succinctly, and the guitar intro to the enigmatic “Mrs. K” is as classic Betties, trapped in amber.