The Ting Tings

The Ting Tings: Maca Dang Dang

We Started Nothing (Columbia)

We recently ran a music poll in the MegaStar office as to whether or not the Ting Tings were actually brilliant or a load of poo.

It was heated, to say the least. ‘Let the MegaStar readers decide’ cried the forlorn Ed.

So we ran the poll with five possible answers. The Ting Tings are… Best Band In Ages, Too Cool for School, Annoying, Annoyingly Brilliant, Don’t care, she’s fit.

‘Don’t care, she’s fit’ won by a country mile. The MegaStar readers were in agreement. But the mere mention of the Ting Tings in some circles is enough to make mild-mannered people want to chew their own fist into a bloody stump.

Their latest single That’s Not My Name has even held Queen of shallow Madonna off the top spot, it’s refrain – catchy/annoying as buggery – delete as appropriate, is sweeping the nation like a bizarre form of brain crack making you question your musical credentials and sanity.

The Times reviewed We Started Nothing (slated it) and commented that it would be one of those albums that in five years time a mate will spot on your shelf and say: ‘You didn’t, did you?’

Harsh but fair? Time will tell, along with That’s Not My Name the Ting Tings have managed to produce at least another two pop crackers on this album in Great DJ and Fruit Machine – so hats off there.

Is that enough to ensure any type of credible longevity? It certainly helps that singer Katie White is blessed in the face stakes, three songs out of a whole album is pretty bad… but in this era of itunes and er… torrents (ahem) folk can pick and choose music any discard filler without prejudice.

The Ting Tings are the band of the moment - silly songs, silly names - there only downfall will be the inevitable over exposure. So enjoy and learn to embrace that nagging refrain going around your bonce – it will go away and you won’t miss it.

We say: Double pop crack hangover.

They say: ‘Everything most artful, disingenuous and opportunistic about the music industry is here,’ The Times.

Best Track: That’s Not My Name. Number One in the hit parade don’t you know.

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