just reading through the mainstream pop single thread got me thinking: are people being serious when they claim that stuff like 'can't speak french' is outstanding music? i mean, really? i've seen a lot of supposedly respectable commentators claiming that they're a great pop band, and it disturbs me. they're certainly not in the same league as the sugababes, for example. how have they managed to reach this position of respectability within the indie community? don't get me wrong, i'm not saying their music is bad as such, but it's pretty average in fairness. aside from all that, they look so bloody plastic in all their videos. apart from 'long hot summer', 'cos they're in a garage getting their hands dirty and so on..mmmmmmmmmmmm