Tucson, Arizona, musician Nick Luca showcases several musical personas on Fractions. Power-pop is served up on the infectious opener Damned, which he follows splendidly with the bouncy New Wave-ish One Way Ticket Home. Luca (who uses his surname as his band name) flashes his grittier side on the Stonesy garage-rocker Pretty Mama, but quickly switches gears with the moody, jazz-trumpet-punctuated Bitten. A possible glimpse into his live set surfaces with his two cover choices (Jonathan Richmans I Was Dancing At A Lesbian Bar and Lou Reeds Walk On The Wild Side); both are decent but neither transcendent. Its Not Over Yet Projects a big arena-rock feel, while a pair of piano-based ballads quiet down the discs second half. The closing cut, the jagged rocker I Still Believe, nicely raises the energy level again.