Storming The Charts #7: The Ting Tings

The Ting Tings
That's Not My Name

May 2007 brought about the first single release of little known Manchester duo The Ting Tings, Who with the help of Radio 1 and NME have just re-released the single after signing a major record deal with Sony BMG, which is sure to be a hot contender for the No. 1 spot this sunday.

With perhaps exceptions of The Enemy, not since late 2005 - when the Arctic Monkeys released 'I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor' - have I been this excited about a song I know being released into the UK charts. With the first release (a 500-copy limited release) now fetching prices of over £100 on eBay, The Ting Tings are quite literally one of the hottest new talents in the country at the moment.

They're music is not something that I usually warm to, but after I discovered their persona this time last year and after I started writing this blog back in January, I wrote a post about them because I was convinced they could be something massive. Admitedly, I wrote the post due to the face they were one of NME's big 10 this year, but I did not think that they could be a serious contender for a No. 1 single. Maybe top 5, but battling with the wrath of Rhianna after last years complete domination of the top spot is surely beyond them.

The song itself 'That's Not My Name' is a social critique about a young girl that band frontwoman Katie White used to go to school with called Stacey Pike. All the other girls in Katie's class used to call her Stacey Pike, simple because their names are similar and Katie would say: "but, that's not my name", hench the title of the song.

Tom Clarke once said that music reviewers constantly try to discover the meaning of lyrics are wasting their time. "I mean if you wake up really hungry and then decide you're gonna write a song that minute, chances are its gonna involve bacon... Rory Walker philosophy... say what you see, he had it right all those years ago."

Therefore it's just a catchy song, a fucking good catchy song to note, but just a catchy indie-pop song with no more intellect or energy behind it than a dosey poem for valentines day.

If the song reaches No. 1, it'll be a triumphant day for British music, in that people have gone out and bought a genuinely good song but a new and upcoming artist that wasn't written in a luxary 5 million pound recording studio by someone hired to write it, it was written by the artist themself, in probably Katie's bedroom. It's a well known fact that Richard Archer wrote Living For The Weekend in his bedroom he was brought up in, in his family home in Staines.

Monthly Playlist - January 2008

Entering into the New Year, I was full of optimism for the 'new noise 08' frenzy being stirred up in NME, as well as the continued new direction being pile driven into the minds of young Britain by Mr. Zany Lowe. His voice may be annoying and his pace of delivery on Radio One harder to keep up with than Marion Jones on drugs, it really is starting to show that he knows exactly what he's talking about. Especially with allowing Hadouken! to rake havoc on air with tenacious dub-step and grime beats on worldwide broadcast for two hours solid.
After a slow start to the month, the emerging artists of the year to come have become much clearer to those people who actually buy music (if i can be botherd, myself included). I think I'll slip in a little boast to myself for tipping One Night Only to hit the big time, as they showed this week in the charts as the second highest new entry and among a top 10 of gloring veterans. Their album is released on Monday 11th Feb so I urge you to consider checking it out and we'll see come Sunday 17th February, if they really can hold out against the heavyweights of Morrissey and Mr. Jackson, both gracing us with old releases in a 'funky' new format. If One Night Only could pull a debut No.1 out the bag against the 25th Anniversary release of the world’s biggest selling album of all time 'Thriller', then I really will be impressed.

This is a different kind of blog, much shorter and to the point, here are my top 10 songs of January. Basically this list is OBVIOUSLY biased, so don't all get your nickers in a twist and fume at the fact that 'your precious band' is not gracing my chart, just swallow it and move on in life; or you could vent your fury and cream my pants with arsenic in the comments section at the bottom. Your choice.

THE BEST MONTHLY MUSIC CHART IN WORLD HISTORY: January 2008

#10: Lightspeed Champion - Tell Me What It's Worth
The fourth single from the former Test Icicles dude who was voted #49 in last year's NME cool list. This quirky upbeat indie anthem depicts the racial hatred that Devonte received from Black people on the streets of Dalston and Brixton. The irony being that he him is black.

#9: Bullet for My Valentine - Scream Aim Fire
The first single from the hugely anticipated critically acclaimed, thunder of a third album, in which they truly come to life. The Welsh foursome hit top form in the US Billboard 100 this month, making #4, a great achievement these days for a British outlet. This balls out mammoth incest of metal rock will have you "over the top" till the early hours.

#8: Lupe Fiasco - Superstar
First release of the 'self titled' album 'Lupe Fiasco's The Cool' (nice name!) from the American rapper, who gained a top #5 entry in the UK Charts. This is one of my favourite urban licks right now. I'm fed up of Rhianna, Timberland, and Beyonce polluting my ears with the same old lyrics and the same old beats played a different pitch levels. This is a great catchy tune, however it's just another example of a dying urban scene.

#7: Hot Chip - Ready to the Floor
Pipping One Night Only in the charts this week, but just missing out on a top 5 spot, the virgin loners from London are setting the Indie club scene alive at the moment with their feet tapping, ear crunching dance filler. Expect big things from them this year on the road.



#6: N.E.R.D - Everyone Nose
Grace the lord! Pharrell, Chad and 'friend' have returned after a three year absence, sporting a new direction, and more new friends as they've now been confirmed as support to Kaiser Chiefs at this year's Isle of Wight festival; as well as throwing one off gig at the Brixton Academy in June.

#5: The Wombats - Moving To New York
Suprisingly the highest entering song into the UK charts by The Wombats to date. This upbeat indie firebreather will brighten up the most boring or depressing of your days; I just wish they had released this as their first single, and this was celebrating a top 5 entry for 'Kill the Director'.




#4: One Night Only - Just For Tonight
I had the pleasure of interviewing the band last week for my Student paper, they came across as really genuine lads, who really are in it for the music. I think for that reason alone, they deserve to achieve big things this year, a 2009 Breakthrough Brit nomination isn't out of the question.



#3: The Ting Tings - Great DJ
I'm more of a radio person, so rarely can I sit down at watch music videos, this is a great exception. Thumping beats, catchy lyrics, and with the hottest girl to front a band since Debbie Harry they've got a lot going for them. The Ting Tings are only pipped as my song of the month, by some true musical greats.



#2: Biffy Clyro - Who's Got a Match?
Upon the release of Biffy's most critically acclaimed album, I remember playing this song over and over, the perfect example of a thunderous rock ballad. This week it was, and it will surely cement Biffy as one of the most important UK acts around at the moment. This will also be the last single release of their most successful album 'Puzzle'.


#1: Radiohead - Jigsaw Falling into Place
Radiohead have surely with the revolutionary download release of their most recent album 'In Rainbows'. Mature and nurture their unquestionable talent over time and not even Oasis, as good as they were, was ever able to accomplish. find more than one thing to say about the world. This is most exciting Radiohead release since 'No Surprises'.

WTF is 'Two Thousand & Gr8'?

Hello to anyone who read my last blog or anyone who has just started reading!

The amazing longness of my work shifts at Pizza Hut this week, has allowed me to post this blog slightly later than planned, but whos fussed cos i wanted it to be posted on a monday anyway! Anyway week two of this blog will be looking at the year of musick ahead, who deserves to be number one and who deserves to be shown the toilet venues. I'm going to place my 'track of the week' and 'video of the week' on each blog from now on aswel so be sure to check them out!

Since the new year has rung in, many times i've heard the term being used 'Two Thousand & Gr8' to describe 2008, including Russell Brand, Chris Moyles and Christian O'Connell, can I ask those why this is so! Seriously though what makes a year ending in the number '8' so special? I mean France won the World Cup in 1998, where exactly is the greatness in that?
Surely 2007 was bloddy good enough in terms of the music. 2007 was possibly the most exciting year in British music since Oasis - Definately Maybe' back in 1994. We saw the re unions of the likes of the Sex Pistols, The Rolling Stones and new released music from The Eagles, Status Quo and new singles from Queen and Oasis. As well as revival of Ska and typical British rock 'n' roll with The Enemy and Pigeon Detectives. Not to mention the so called 'Nu Rave' scene exploding with the Klaxons, Hadouken!, New Youn Pony Club, The Sunshine Underground, Ghost Frequency and many others making a noticeable impact in the charts and on the road.
Its becoming the trend now that new bands come along like new fragrances of purfume, who all play the same kind of musick, but somehow all have different meanings.
As soon as the Klaxons shot to fame early last year, everyone has wanted to shove a keyboard on their set because its the in-thing to do. I think The Wombats tried to make a mockery about the whole situation when they started using a £20 children's keyboard from Toys 'R' Us for acoustic versions of their songs, and it sounds just as effective as a £1000 Roland beast. I mean the singles charts are still full of bullshit this week, so no changes there, and the album chart still tells the full story of UK Music with Radiohead fully deserving their number one for 'Rainbows'.

Basically if '200ngr8' turns out to be a better musical year than 2007, I will eat horse shit thats been runover into the tarmac and dried out over a couple of days and has maggot eggs in it.

The Ting Tings... So cool they named themselves Twice!

Onto topic numero deux... those slightly mad but very intresting former three piece 'Dear Eskimo' reinventing themselves as two-pieces Manchester duo 'The Ting Tings'. Lyrically they could rival the querky anecdotes of Avril Lavigne and musically they could burn holes in gold plated roman body armour with their arms tied behind their backs. And Katie is also the hottest lil' blonde singer to burst out of my speakers, since Christina Agruilera got down and Dirrty.


Their debut single 'That's Not My Name' was released on 28th May 2007 on 7" only to much critical acclaim. "People around, gotta find something to say nowww... but with nothing to consider they forget my name" The people that make things happen in the world, organisers, writers, managers, and artists with something to say, they never get the respect they deserve. "Although i'm dressed up, out and all with/Everything considered they forget my name" It doesn't matter how much people prove themselves critics, the press or anyone else will always find something to moan about, especially with politicians and the authorities, there is always something wrong with the way things are done these days. Well I think that's how things are anyway. The song was named the 6th best track of 2006 in NME and have since been named as one of NME's 'NewNoise 2008' bands of the year to come. It seems likely they will spark a major record deal soon, and a debut album should be on the way later this year. Their second release 'Fruit Machine' was only available to people who attended their recent tour with only 100 CDs per gig, the rarity factor has sparked interest and some are currently selling on ebay for up to £100. Along with The Ting Tings, similar acts such as the Tigerpicks have been reinventing the Manchester scene with many acts threatening to break into the mainstream, I hope electro-pop never fades away!
With Jules on drums/vocals and blonde stunner Katie on guitar and vocals its hard not to get hooked to their reinvented 90s electro beats.
After just seven months of being together and just three gigs played they were asked to play on the BBC Introducing Stage at Glastonury last year and performed with the swagger and talent of festival veterans, that raised eyebrows in all directions. They will be on tour for the majority of February with Joe Lean & The Jing Jang Jon and The Cribs for the NME Awards Tour 2008 that climaxes at the Brixton Academy on 22nd Feb, and at only £15.60, I wouldn't miss it!
Other songs that appear on their MySpace include 'Great DJ' sounding the work of a four strong thunderbolt, it hits you in the eye with snake venom at 100mph.
They've announced that this will be released as a single to hit shelves on March 3rd, although they also plan to release a new single in conjunction with the NME Tour in February, which could be 'We Walk'. A much slower paced opener that gathers life and soul with every beat. A song that taps your feet to the beat and thumps through your shoddy iPod earphones.
It proves they arn't just out there for a ride, they are your favourite new band with the funtime attitude to your sunday afternoon woes.

http://www.myspace.com/thetingtings

Track of the week

This will be my first track of the week so lets make it a good one. I've chosen The Wombats fourth single 'Moving to New York', just because its my favourite song at the moment, and seeing as it was released today i think its quite fitting.
So check it out, i wouldn't try their myspace though as they only have short versions of all their songs now, but their youtube page has the full song and video.

Video of the week

This will also be my first video of the week and seeing as I went with the wombats for my track of the week, I thought i'd continue the trend. This has been an ongoing tradition at Wombats gigs since early last year when they bought their Toys 'R' Us
Keyboard, it results in Dan the bass guitarist (dressed in a white dress :P) sings the theme tune to Postman Pat in Norwegian which unless your a complete arse, results in much laughter.

Music News

As far as news from the world of music goes... Girls Aloud and The Editors have been nominated for the Best British Group award. Seriously if were meant to be going forward in the British Music Industry how can they showcase some of these people. Leona Lewis for a breakthrough artist... please stab me in the ear with a dildo! She released a debut single Christmas 2006 that went to No. 1 because she was on X-factor and 50 year old women and 5 year olds bought her records. Then she sat on her arse, toured for 9 months then released her second single and album that wasn't even written by her. So where is the talent as a Breakthrough Artist. Brokethrough from where, our TV screens, woop-de-do. The Brit award nominators need to get their finger out of the arse of the Record Companies and get on the road and find some home grown talent from the cities of Britain. The fact that The Enemy are not nominated in the breakthrough category really infuriates me. Fair enough Leona Lewis can have her best single nomination if millions of people like her music enough to buy it, then thats fine. However, how she can be nominated as a breakthrough artist when the music she is singing is written by Jesse McCartney. Also the fact that CSS have not been nominated in the Best International Album category astounds me, just because they talk about sex in their songs and encourage youngsters to drink alcohol means they arn't even considered. Its the culture of their country for people to like the things they sing about, we're not supposed to be showcasing our musical tastes based on what the music industry wants the rest of the world to know about. The Brits are our version of the MTV Music Awards in the United States, we should be showcasing the best talent on offer. We always wonder why British bands go over to America and perform so badly in their charts, but we are telling the world about The Editors and Mika, and band so boring and a man with a voice so high pitched they could be sued for false advertising.
Looking on the Brighter side though, The Klaxons recieved nominations for Best Live Act and Breakthough Act; Kate Nash for Best Female and Best Single; also Jamie T found and unexpected nomination for Best Male, so all is not lost. If 'Foundations' wins Best Single then it will surely make up for the loss of credibility lost to the nomination panel ahead of this years awards.
Paul McCartney has earned a very well deserved and I think slightly late award for his Outstanding Contribution to Music. A look back at his roots with the Beatles will probably make the award ceremony worth watching on the 20th Feb, even if we have to endure Miss. Lewis. Well there's always watching paint dry, if you get bored.