THE first thing you notice about Sinead Quinn's debut is there are no cover versions - not one. It would have been easy for the Irish runner-up of Fame Academy to throw in a couple of set numbers to lift her album.

But she didn't and it's to her credit that she helped write many of the songs. Ready To Run is a well-balanced selection of catchy rock-pop songs. Quinn has a great voice, really different and powerful. The tracks she has already released, What You Need Is and I Can't Break Down, are good but not the best. Instead try Never Happy and Don't Give It Up Girl, which are incredibly catchy. There are a couple of bland numbers such as Small Town Big Dreams, but even that is not a disaster and displays her impressive voice. Overall, it is well worth a listen.

Updated: 11:04 Thursday, July 31, 2003