'and the drums' (We Started Nothing - Ting Tings)

Member Name: owensmum

Product:	We Started Nothing - Ting Tings
Date:	02/04/09 (127 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Catchy, upbeat and addictive

Disadvantages: Latter tracks are weaker

My first impression of the Ting Tings was whats that name all about?! Well according to Wikipedia its the first name of a chinese colleague of Katie White who fronts the band. Katie hails from Salford and her partner in crime is Jules De Martino who is from Cumbria. Both members were originally in a 3 piece band called Dear Eskimo. They were signed to Mercury records but the Ting Tings were formed after a split due to creative differences.


To date the Ting Tings have only released this there debut album titled 'We Started Nothing' Realesed on Columbia records in 2008, the cd is fairly short with ten tracks in total.

~~~Great DJ~~~
This is the opening track on the album and starts the album off with a bang. Its such a catchy track, starting with a guitar rift and then the electro drumbeat kicks in. The lyrics are very simple and repetitive particularly in the chorus which helps to make it such an addictive track.


'The girls ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah,
and the boys ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah,
and the strings ee ee ee ee ee ee ee ee,
and the drums, the drums, the drums, the drums'

~~~Thats Not My Name~~~
The most well known hit from the band to date, with the most commercial success this brought the band into the spotlight for me. Again the track has an addictiveness about it. I particularly like the vocal arrangement on this track. Towards the end there are three vocal melodies layered sung by both members of the band and although the album version is longer than the radio release it is enjoyable right to the end. This is a bot of a taster track, if you like this track then you will like the album, if not then you won't.

'Are you calling me darling?
Are you calling me bird'


~~~Fruit Machine~~~
After the first two tracks this one struggles to have as big an impact. Having said that it is a grower and has a good beat and catchy chorus. Its also quite a short track.

'Kerching'


~~~Traffic Light~~~
This is a completely different style to the other tracks so far and is one of my favourites from the album. It shows off the sweetness of Katies vocals as opposed to the usual attitude filled harsher vocals. The lyrics on this track are very simple and yet cleverly effective.

'Don't you be a roundabout,
not another roundabout,
you've come so far yet back to the start,
don't you be a roundabout'


~~~Shut Up And Let Me Go~~~
If you haven't heard the hook from this tune then you must have been living on another planet! Its been used in numerous adverts and programmes. Its instantly recognisable and very catchy. The follow up single to 'Thats Not My Name' it was another big hit for the band.

'Hey!'


~~~Keep Your Head~~~
I love this track. Again it has a catchy melody and hook, I refer to the track as '10 minutes ago' as these are the most prominent words for the majority of the track. It practically jumps along, makes you walk faster when listening on headphones!

'Fourteen, intimidated and shes just fourteen'


~~~Be The One~~~
This is a much more subtle track, with not much of an initial impact. But its definately a grower and a nice to listen to track. It almost has a sing song quality to it, very mellow. Another track that has been released as a single.

'I don;t wanna be the one, making all the noise'


~~~We Walk~~~
The most recent track to be released from the album. It doesn't really get going until a couple of minutes into it and it lacks the oomph of the previous tracks. Its still a decent listen but nothing special and a bit too long.

'ah ah ah ah ah, ah ah ah ah ah'


~~~Impacilla Carpisung~~~
Don't really get this track! Its fairly catchy but I have no idea what its about. It may just be me showing my stupidity! In the break in the middle and towards the end there are sections that sound as if they are played on a kids casio keyboard. Very odd! Even so, its still catchy!

(not even gonna try and print lyrics here!)


~~~I Started Nothing~~~
The final track on the album and and a bit of a weak ending. I like the vocals on this track, they are different. It has a catchy rift but it does drag on a bit.

'I started nothing, I wish I didn't'


We have had this cd for a while now. I originally bought it for myself as I liked 'Thats Not My Name'. It has proved to ne the most popular cd we have. It regularly gets put on in the car when the kids are tired and they are soon singing along and dancing about. It seems to give them a new lease of life. The album does have an infectious sound to it. We all tend to like the start of the album more than the end. The latter tracks are all decent they are just not a patch on the excellent start to the album. I would recommend this cd to anyone who likes music to put them in a good mood. It can't fail to get you singing along. I have listened to the album over and over and I never tire of it. Usually if someone else in my family constantly wants to listen to an album I tend to get sick of hearing it. That is not the case with this one.

Its available to buy fairly cheaply now but is still popular. If you want to listen to any of the tracks yourself then visit the bands website:


www.thetingtings.com

The band are currently working on their follow up album and I can't wait to get my ears on it!

Summary: quirky upbeat debut