CD Choice: RED KID Rocket Ship Yellow Leaf Music *****

To launch a CD on the same night as the opening ceremony of the Olympics takes nerve. Red Kid are obviously confident about their debut album and sensibly cashed in on whatever good vibrations lurked around China's most auspicious and lucky day, 08/08/08. Rocket Shipbegins, appropriately, with a bang and ends with . . . well, another bang.

Think in terms of Fratellis, Black Crows, Blur, The Beatles and The Raconteurs, throw in a healthy sense of humour and a strong streak of individuality, and you have a good idea of where Red Kid are coming from. Ronan Turner has been described as "charismatic", but a good front- man without a great band is just a show-off. Turner might be that, but Red Kid are a first-class outfit. The rock-pop vibe is perfectly executed, and there's not a bum song in sight, making you wonder where they've been hiding.

In fact, Red Kid have been working their skinny rocker butts off, touring Ireland and Europe, building up an impressive following on the back of their live gigs. Spots at Electric Picnic, Castle Palooza and Hard Working Class Heroes have brought them to a wider audience, and their on-stage exuberance is clearly audible here. There's a strong possibility that the national grid could be fed by the excess energy that tumbles off some tracks, notably Too Young to Dieand Luana. Subtlety does not appear in Red Kid's dictionary, but Fakeand Saturdayhint at a softer side to the quintet.

The unrestrained exuberance in their stage act has been translated onto disc by producers Tony Perry and Billy Farrell at Dublin's Pulse Studios, along with a bit of spit and polish. The stand-out track among an album of outstanding songs is Gaberlunzie, a strange name but a great song; and there is an inspired finish with a homage to The Sweet's Ballroom Blitzin the smashing Paradise.

Are we allowed to say an album is sexy? If so, Rocket Shipmost definitely is. www.redkid.info

Download tracks: Rocket Ship, Gaberlunzie, Luana, Paradise