The Ting Tings' 'Sounds from Nowheresville'

At least the Ting Tings don't play it safe. The British duo's new "Sounds From Nowheresville" (Columbia) tries on all sorts of genres, connecting at times, though never as strongly as "That's Not My Name." "Hang It Up" is a stunning, in-your-face homage to Debbie Harry, with Katie White delivering a brash rap and Jules de Martino offering some snarling guitar lines. "Soul Killing" is a weirdly defiant, reggae-tinged anthem. The Ting Tings do strike out, though, especially on the oddly sprawling "Day to Day" and the bizarre, '90s alt-rock of "Silence." They need to work on their batting average.

THE TING TINGS

"Sounds From Nowheresville"

GRADE B

BOTTOM LINE Experimental, uneven attempts at redefining pop