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Jet Lag Gemini, "Fire the Cannons" (Doghouse Records)

This quartet displays youthful bravado on the first single — "Run This City" — off its debut CD. The guys are a veritable musical U.N. — brothers Vlad (guitar) and Matt Gheorghiu (bass) are from Romania; lead singer and rhythm guitarist Misha Safonov is from Russia; and drummer Dan Diliberto is a New Jersey boy.

The band specializes in straight-forward, hook-laden rock 'n' roll that's peppy and poppy ("Doctor Please!"; "The Bad Apples"), while straddling punk, pop and emo.

It often sounds like classic rock with hard rock solos courtesy of Vlad, who's an 18-year-old guitar prodigy. The intro and break on "Bittersweet" are exceptionally tasty. Adding to the vibe are adolescent themes of love and (mostly) sex.

These guys should skip the flaccid ballads ("Stepping Stone") and stick to the rockers.

RTX, "RaTX" (Drag City)

Since breaking up Royal Trux and divorcing Neil Hagerty in summer 2000, the distaff half of that scuzz-rock duo has gone on to play "power trash . . . a more sophisticated Def Leppard with a fuzz box." And judging by her band's second full-length, Jennifer Herrema will get no argument here.

This is narcotic rock 'n' drone, still druggy sounding, far-out strange and willing to lull you into a stupor, if need be (like on "Western Xterminator," an exotic and echoey flute-anchored prelude like some Middle Eastern raga).

However, this is far more focused and cogent then some (read: most) Royal Trux efforts, and the guitar work is great throughout. "Balls to Pass" is a nod to her past, all Stonesy rock 'n' twang, while "Dude Love" sounds as if Joan Jett or the Donnas just got a new fuzz box.

Fuzz is the operative word, as on the nightmarish "Knightmare & Mane" or the heavy-metal growl of "Wo-Wo Din."

"Money Will Roll Right In" seems tongue-in-cheek, but it's hard to tell. Herrema's vocals are processed, put through a vocoder and/or amplified. This is a deliberate facade/screen/haze she doesn't want you to penetrate. She wants to keep you at arm's length, but she does invite you along for the ride on the "Rad Times Xpress"; just watch your step.

Metro Station, "Metro Station" (Red Ink/Sony BMG Music)

This quartet formed in Hollywood last year and became a MySpace sensation playing keyboard- and synth-driven emo pop with cool vocal harmonies. On their debut, they mostly sound like early Fall Out Boy or Hellogoodbye, with touches of the Cure ("Wish We Were Older") and other New Wave flourishes ("Control").

These guys know their way around a catchy dance hook; there's even a song called "Disco," which references both the music and the venue, that sounds like Shiny Toy Guns sans the female vocals.

In their bio, they say "our music is all about being young and wanting more from life." Nonetheless, themes of teenage love ("Kelsey") and sex (the repetitiously alluring "Shake It") dominate. First single "Seventeen Forever" encapsulates these feelings: "We won't be 17 forever, but we can get away with this tonight." Amen.

We the Kings, "We the Kings" (S-Curve Records)

These four guys from Florida might be the exception to teenagers hating their hometown; their debut is a love letter to the resort community of Bradenton (the closer, "This Is Our Town," is a mushy ballad to the aforementioned).

This is teen ennui and angst ("Stay Young") delivered in charming 3-minute pop-rock love songs. They kind of sound like Fall Out Boy or All American Rejects.

The head-over-heels love song "Skyway Avenue" and the crush note "Check Yes Juliet" have been getting airtime on various music channels. "Whoa" makes great use of its title for a catchy chorus, while "August Is Over" is another nod to resort culture that disperses at the end of summer.

We the Kings and Metro Station are part of "The Really Really Ridiculously Good Looking Tour" that makes a stop Wednesday at the Launchpad, 618 Central Ave. S.W. Cobra Starship headlines the all-ages show. The Cab opens at 7 p.m. $12 at the door or launchpadrocks.com. 764-8887.