Customer Reviews

Attagirl (Dig)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

While 'Palomine' (classic album) will always be a point of reference for Bettie Serveert, 'Attagirl' is a very solid, enjoyable album with creative, catchy tracks throughout... the best Bettie Serveert album I've heard since Palomine!

another splendid spin from this acclaimed, yet ignored outfit. the first essential of 2005.

Pop Kulcher Review: Hoo-boy, I need some new music. Desperately. Most of my purchases these days are either reissues of things I've owned forever, or increasingly non-essential new albums by bands who've long outlived their sell-by date. Attagirl, no kidding, is plainly in the latter category. Released in early 2005, I finally picked it up, more out of habit than anything else. I loved the band a decade ago, when Dutch chanteuse Carol Van Dyk wrapped her mighty pipes around the band's Crazy Horse-like grunge pop, and the goodwill they generated from 1994 debut Palomine was enough to let me overlook the increasing sameness of subsequent albums. For better or worse, they tried to shake the malaise with 2000's Private Suit and 2003's Log 22, dropping the noisy guitars in favor of smoother, keyboard-augmented balladry. Neither album was bad, but a couple decent tracks aside, neither was terribly interesting.

So I came into Attagirl with fairly low expectations -- and, as can happen in these situations, I liked this much more than I'd anticipated. Sure, it keeps in the vein of the last couple albums, mostly downbeat and easy-going, but mixes things up a bit with some electronic vibes ("Dreamaniacs"), jazzy bits (the title tune), and (brief) return to rockers of yore ("Hands Off"). Not a high-impact disc by any stretch of the imagination, but solid through and through.

I bought the import version of this album because I couldn't find any news about a domestic U.S. release at the time, but now it's coming out here on Minty Fresh. It's another excellent album from Bettie Serveert. I like it better than Log 22, but it doesn't quite measure up to the classic trio of Palomine, Lamprey, and Dust Bunnies, at least not yet. It has that kind of potential, though, and I need to listen to it a few more times. Bettie Serveert is still one of the best bands in the world, so underrated. If you're a fan, don't miss this one.

Loving this record, that is. I must admit, when a friend lent me the record, I was very skeptical, but the haunting vocals and catchy hooks drew me right in. This is a great record, and I'll defintely be looking into their past efforts.

I remember this band from the 1990s. There was a lot of office buzz about them at some magazines I worked with. At the time many Dutch bands were doing pop music and Britpop. Bettie Serveert was always a band that was doing interesting things. Now it's a decade later and this is their seventh album. The song "Attagirl" sounds a little like The Sounds and Portishead. "Greyhound Song" is a sign of their new development. It is a very modern sound. "Versace" is another important tune. There are some more guitar ballads. "Hands Off" is a straight-ahead rocker. This album closes with "Lover I Don't Have To Love" which combines emotion with power. Singer Carol van Dyk isn't the best, but she has a unique sound. This American release also includes two acoustic versions of some of the best songs. This may be a record to rediscover or check out for the first time.

'Lover I dont have to love' is a cover of a Bright Eyes song. Check out the original if you haven't. It's on 'Lifted'.