Actually, what you are hearing, and, in your ignorance, not recognizing, is the influence of Twee Pop--

Described at TweeNet   "They call it "wimpy" and "twee", but Pop Kids everywhere know that the true spirit of Punk Rock lives on not in the mass-marketed "alternative" scene, or the sub-metal caterwauling of testosterone-poisoned grunge-rockers, but in the simple and pure efforts of kids banging out sweet delicious songs on cheap guitars."

The influences are 60's folk rock, which as we know, was heavily rooted in British Folk music of the kind that you all sanctimoniously bicker about, so you've got no business complaining;-)

At any rate, you can listen to as much or as little as you want here IndiePop Podcasts --and even download it.

The music is deliberately and often ironically sweet, the lyrics are generally droll, often in a biting and Morissey-like way.