We Started Nothing : The Ting Tings : Review : Rolling Stone

Both members of this U.K. pop duo — singer-guitarist Katie White and drummer Jules De Martino — used to play in second-tier teen-pop acts. Their earlier experiences clearly left them with harsh feelings about the music industry: De Martino has admitted that their thumping disco single "Shut Up and Let Me Go" is a breakup song written for their former record label, not an old flame. But those formative years also gave them an instinct for industrial-grade pop hooks, which is probably why Apple selected "Shut Up" for its recent iPod ad. On their full-length debut, the Ting Tings craft peppy New Wave that's relentlessly catchy: "That's Not My Name" is a Toni Basil-style chant-along fueled by a punk-funk groove, "Be the One" sounds like Blondie, and "We Started Nothing" dresses up a ripping break beat in sumptuous soul horns. The Ting Tings toss in enough untreated guitars, grrrl-power lyrics and subsonic Moog blurts to give We Started Nothing a certain edginess. But it's just a front: An album that's as joyful as anything by Gwen Stefani or Kylie Minogue doesn't need indie cred.

MICHAEL ENDELMAN

(Posted: Jun 12, 2008)

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5of 5 Stars

I LOVE THIS ALBUM.TO BITS. >_< seriously, if you're going to buy any album, buy this one. (: i LOVE every song on it, + they're so catchy! i'm addicted! plus they're AMAZING to dance to. ;) it's so awesome that these guys are famous - they really deserve it! so sweet to think they were so amazed that first year at glastonbury 2007 when they played their song in front of everyone - now it's really famous! i love the ting tings; their music is great + so is their fashion taste: really upbeat + funky. lots of people dislike them, but tbh they don't deserve the slating. THEY'RE GREAT PEOPLE WITH GREAT MUSIC XD <3

Jun 30, 2008 10:55:55

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