In the spring of 1995, I was working in retail in the mall, mere months away from quitting that world and accidentally starting my technology career. Our in-store AEI music system came with themed tapes we could rotate, one series of which was named “Modern Rock.” Buffalo Tom, Dinosaur Jr., Pixies, and other 90s alternative bands graced the speakers on the off hours, when we weren’t playing the club music that brought our target demographic into the store.

It was on one of these tapes that I first experienced Bettie Serveert. The song was “Crutches,” and man, did it grab my ear (and my soul!) On my next break, I ran down to Sam Goody and bought the Lamprey CD. I’ve been a huge fan of De Betties, as they refer to themselves, ever since.

I was going to add a band bio, but I’ll let them tell the story:

Every component of this song is amazing: Herman Bunskoeke’s melodic bass line, Carol van Dyk’s plaintive vocals, and of course Peter Visser’s sharp, textural guitar. But the killer moment has to be the “BAP BAP” of Berend Dubbe’s snare drum that crashes into the first chorus at 1:56.

I am a big fan of light/heavy juxtaposition in music – Led Zeppelin were the godfathers of what Jimmy Page called “light and shade”, with Smashing Pumpkins as their heirs apparent. Bettie Serveert follow suit here, and the effect is undeniable.