Red (Higher Octave)

They once owned a pub in Santa Monica, they're exclusively sponsored by Murphy's Irish Stout, their self-proclaimed "rabid" fan base includes the likes of Rosie O'Donnell, Michael Keaton and Dan Akroyd, but Bernie Taupin (Elton John's lyricist) nailed the coolest thing about the Young Dubliners when he said simply, "They kick ass!"

Mixing classic rock sounds with an ever-present Celtic hook, the Young Dub's fourth album, Red, does kick some serious booty. In a music industry where the word "eclectic" is becoming re-defined as the alternate use of the words "baby" and "ain't," the Young Dubs not only (gasp!) play their own instruments, but prove just what it should mean to be eclectic as they alternate from laid-back chill rock like the title track to the get-down-in-the-"jig pit" (the Dubs' version of a mosh pit) of "What Do You Want From Me?"

Originally hailing from Dublin, these boys even throw in an impressive cover of the Waterboys classic "Fisherman's Blues." Watch out, though-if you're looking forward to the familiar struggle to understand the Waterboys' lyrics, you'll be disappointed. Songs such as "Bodhran" (named for a traditional Celtic drum and pronounced "bo-ran") hint at just how amazing and fun a live band the Young Dubs must be. Baby, the Young Dubs ain't no Britney, but, then again, that's a good thing.

A

-Nell Hanlon