They started something... thats for sure (We Started Nothing - Ting Tings)

Member Name: balfury

Product:	We Started Nothing - Ting Tings
Date:	10/08/08 (16 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: original music, catchy songs

Disadvantages: very short

heard the single 'that's not my name' and instantly rushed out and purchased this album, initially I was disappointed but by the third listen I was hooked. Its a fairly short album at around 50 mins and only 10 songs but its 50 mins of brilliant songs!
The Ting Tings comprise of 2 members (often referred to al the Salford duo)
Jules De Martino (Backing vocal, Drums and Guitar)
Jules was born in London and started out in a Christian band called Babakoto they released one single in 1987 titled just to get by' Jules was also a singer in 1995 group Mojo pin.
Katie White (Lead vocals)
Kate was born in greater Manchester and was initially a part of girl TKO as a teenager, the group never received any commercial success but it was during her time in TKO that Katie met Jules.

Jules relocated to Manchester and after both having failed in the music industry the Ting tings were born! The Ting Tings name came after a Chinese colleague of White's at a boutique, who told her the name meant "an old bandstand" in Mandarin.They then recorded the album 'we started nothing'
Track listing
1 Great DJ, a brilliant song to start of the album with repetitive drum beat and rough guitar at the start and a synthesised beat to follow is met harmoniously with Katie's no nonsense voice.
2 That's not my name, Potentially the best song on the album and my favourite. The song is simple in sounds with little more than drum and symbols over Katie's almost common sounding voce, Jules' perfect timing for background mumblings complete the song.
3 Fruit machine, Initially I thought this song was nonsense and pure silliness but actually it tells a story its sung in what can only be describe as repetitive stutter rap, but is carried off very well.
4 traffic light, is a fun little number but due to its nothingness its not one of my favourites the behind beat remains the same throughout and the lyrics are silly.
5 Shut up and let me go, another amazing song with progressive drums similar to 'Red hot chilli peppers - cant stop' and its clear cut guitar at the beginning it builds you up for something big...and it delivers.
6 Keep your head, another good song, defiantly not single material but still very good nonetheless it continues with TT's energy and vibe.
7 be the one, a slower more melodic song from TT's and I think it works, Katie's voice sounds less harsh in this song and it suits her.
8 We walk, this one is really slow to start but once you get into it its quite good, use of piano adds another sound to the album, much similar to the other songs.
9 Impacilla carpisung, this is the TT's aiming for diversity and trying to be something they are not, defiantly filler and nothing more, real shame it made it onto the album.
10we started nothing, to my mind it seems like they picked a title to an album then tried to match a song around that title and the result was disastrous. With Katie horribly out of tune and singing a style which really does not suit her.

The album was released on may 18th 2008 and reached the number one position as did the first single that's not my name.
The single 'shut up and let me go' was feature on an ipod commercial and is widely credited for the singles success.

Overall the album Is really good but I think they did not have enough content to fill an album after their initial success and had to rush out a few extra songs as filler.

I also have this review on Ciao

Summary: a good buy