The Ting Tings

It's understandable why The Ting Tings could be the most annoying, hyperbolized, buzz group of this year. U.S. audiences get their first impression of the band with the band's whole iTunes advertisement, played ad nauseam with their single "Shut Up And Let Me Go." But beyond all this, We Started Nothing is actually a solid collection of stylized, indie-dance pop, perfect for those long boring drives to the beach. Yep, this has “summer” written all over it—and it embodies exactly what you want in a summer album: fun, breezy, somewhat innocuous, catchy and easy-to-follow pop.

It’s tough to categorize them in one, single genre, but it’s fair to say that with "We Are Started," they’re falling more into the CSS vein, just a bit more accessible and remix friendly. Single, "That’s Not My Name," builds steadily over five minutes, with lead-Tinger, Katie White, lamenting social faux-pas about not being able to, well, remember her name in a tone that imitates the lead singer of '80s novelty girl-group, The Waitresses, to a tee. "Great DJ" [watch video here] is one of the more guitar-centered tunes, has White sounding a bit like Karen O, yet in a clubby context. A few duds bog this down, particularly the title track "We Started Nothing." It’s an odd way to end the record, with a fit of self-deprecation stuck to a not-so-hot beat. However, these moments are few and far between. Now, these British exports only challenge is to escape one hit wonder fatalism. Or in their case, a one summer wonder.

—Michael D. Ayers
06.11.08

On the Ting Tings' debut album, We Started Nothing, the duo's new wave-worshiping mix of dance and indie pop -- which grafts chugging guitar and bashed drums onto looping structures and proudly plastic keyboards -- is polished, but far from polite. Singer/guitarist Katie White's snotty, singsong vocal delivery and flat rhymes are part cheerleader, part playground chant, and a tiny bit of punk snarl; "That's Not My Name," on which White sneers "Are you calling me darling? Are you calling me bird?," even sounds a little like riot grrrl sloganeering filtered through a decade's worth of pop. Even when White sings more melodically, as on "Traffic Light" and "We Walk," the energy, attitude, and repetition can be grating, even if you're tapping your foot to the songs. However, the Ting Tings manage to stay on the catchy side with "Fruit Machine," a Lily Allen-ish bit of cheeky bordering on vindictive pop, and on "Keep Your Head" and "Be the One," which tone down the Ting Tings' energy to more manageable but still lively levels. "Great DJ" and "Shut Up and Let Me Go" (which sounds like a Yeah Yeah Yeahs parody/tribute) are also standouts, and it's no surprise they've been used in commercials -- they're so short and memorable, they feel like jingles waiting for products to endorse. Since they've got a real knack for writing songs that stick in your head whether you want them to or not, the Ting Tings' songs are fun in very small doses. ~ Heather Phares, All Music Guide