ARTIST: Luca
TITLE: Fractions
LABEL: Funzalo Records
GENRE: Indie
BITRATE: 202kbps avg
PLAYTIME: 0h 43m total
RELEASE DATE: 2007-10-00
RIP DATE: 2007-10-22
Track List
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1. Damned 2:47
2. One Way Ticket Home 3:05
3. I Was Dancing In The Lesbian 3:35
Bar
4. Pretty Mama 3:11
5. Bitten 5:14
6. It's Not Over Yet 2:55
7. Walk On The Wildside 5:48
8. Down 4:13
9. Was It A Dream 3:01
10. Fires Burning 4:47
11. I Still Believe 4:29
Release Notes:
Maybe you think you know what to expect from Nick Luca.
Sure, heÆs the same Nick Luca -- front man for the band Luca (no duh!) -- whoÆs
recorded and played with the likes of Calexico, Howe Gelb, Devotchka and Neko
Case (to name a few).
And yes, his old band was the more jazzy Nick Luca Trio. HeÆs also the same guy
that works on Tucson radio station 92.9 The MountainÆs ôStudio Cö and helms the
board at the infamous Wavelab Studios.
But NickÆs got a new MO. HeÆs morphed his bandÆs sound from ôexperimental indie
trioö to ôfull-blown 4-piece rock juggernaut.ö
LucaÆs last CD, the 2006 release Sick of Love, moved the bandÆs sound into rock
territory. To help him go in that direction, Nick enlisted guitarist Joey
Unger and drummer Ryan Janac, both from TucsonÆs sonic-popsters Sunday
Afternoon. And yes, NickÆs longtime band mate, bassist Chris Giambelluca, is
still onboard.
But the band now sports a more driving, guitar-based attack. The songwriting is
infused with psychedlia, Beatles-esque pop and classic rock. And then thereÆs
the mark of storied producer Sean Slade (Radiohead, Hole, The Pixies, Dresden
Dolls), who brought a new perspective to the talented band and helped them
capture their musical evolution on tape (not Pro Tools) at Wavelab.
Nick wrote 9 of the 11 songs on Fractions. The opening guitar churn of ôPretty
Mamaö feels like a Badfinger flashback. (A good thing, that.) ôItÆs Not Over
Yetö rides on a menacing wash of chords until it breaks into the undeniable hook
of the chorus. ôOne Way Ticket Homeö immediately gets the head boppinÆ and the
fingers poppinÆ, while ôBittenö is a latenight burner reminiscent of LucaÆs
earlier work as the Nick Luca Trio. And the sweet piano melody in ôDownö is
ten-derly complemented by NickÆs breathy vocal delivery.
Cover songs on the record include a dreamy, heat-shimmered version of Lou ReedÆs
ôWalk on the Wild Sideö and an affectionate, fun-loving take on Jonathan
RichmanÆs quirky ôI Was Dancing in the Lesbian Bar.ö
Guest musicians include CalexicoÆs Jacob Valenzuela on trumpet, famous Tucson
(and beyond) drummer Winston Watson, sax player Marco Rosano and producer Sean
Slade (multi-tasking here on organ, bass clarinet and vibes).