Tom Lynch

Ian Adams--ex-Ponys guitarist, vocalist, keyboardist--dutifully matches his art punk past with sixties garage gleam for his new project, Submarine Races, and the self-titled debut record, out this month on In the Red, ferociously attacks with his ability to pull off free-for-all pop melodies, delirious in their nice rock `n' roll ambition. The new band seems to take more from Happy Supply--Adams' band before The Ponys--in its unbridled, lovelorn themes and structuring, and the release itself is assuring that there will be more to come, and it should be better and better. The long opening track--an instrumental, no less--takes some patience to brave, but the remaining twenty minutes or so are marvelous. Adams seems like the kind of guy who's avoiding stardom--he did quit The Ponys just as the band had reached its height of exposure--and that's a bit disappointing, only because it may limit the amount of work he does. Regardless, this is a superb debut.

Submarine Races plays June 8 at Empty Bottle, 1035 North Western, (773)276-3600, at 9:30pm. $8. (2006-06-06)

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