Reckless, Reflective : Check List ****<i> Great Balls of Fire</i> ***<i> Good Vibrations</i> **<i> Maybe Baby</i> *<i> Running on Empty </i>

***THE PONTIAC BROTHERS. “Johnson.” Frontier. From the suburban sprawl of Orange County comes a raging record. The Fullerton foursome’s sweaty little songs about finding your way in the world could make them this year’s Replacements--but the Pontiacs don’t mimic so much as work the same territory of post-adolescent mayhem, inspired by the best reckless and reflective moments of prime Stones, early Geils, Mott the Hoople (loser syndrome) and the Faces on a bender (former Face-man Ian McLagan even guests on roadhouse piano). What takes the band out of the bars is the surprising song-craft lurking beneath the sound of all hell breaking loose. Blowing gaskets with the pedal down, these Pontiacs are wide-trackin’.