You have to think carefully before comparing a band to The Ting Tings – some people will never be able to recover from such criticism. Unfortunately, tough love is probably the only way to set bands like Spiral Beach on the right track.
All the ingredients of a surprise hit and unjustified praise are there: the forgettable verses, the annoying semi-shouted vocal from a woman who can’t noticeably sing, and – worst of all – the chorus which enough people will like for a bandwagon to be set up and jumped on.
When you hear music like this you find yourself in the surprising position of longing for more generic guitar bands and singer-songwriters, and that can’t be good.