Genre-Jumping Carter Delights

If the screaming women, age 5 to 25, who packed the house at Avalon Monday were hoping Nick Carter would sing a few Backstreet Boys songs - in addition to tunes from his new solo album ``Now or Never'' - Carter did not disappoint.

During the obligatory ``unplugged'' section of the 75-minute show, the youngest, blondest of the Backstreet Boys sang a medley of his band's biggest hits, including ``I Want It That Way.'' But to judge by the smorgasbord of musical styles that Carter and his five-piece band tried out during the show, it's unclear exactly which way the 22-year-old singer wants it.

Does he want to be the new Richard Marx, as in swoony piano ballads such as ``Do I Have to Cry for You?'' Or perhaps Carter envisions himself as the second coming of Def Leppard, as the big-beat pop-rock of such Mutt Lange clones as ``Girls in the U.S.A.'' imply?

It's hard to tell, since Carter also played several Backstreet-breezy pop tunes, a frantic cover of the Cars' new-wave chestnut ``Just What I Needed'' and a snippet of Guns N' Roses' ``Paradise City.'' He even flirted with a featherweight rap metal tune.

The show lacked a cohesive attitude, with Carter seemingly at war with his own impulses. And his already whiny voice sounded painfully hoarse. But he clearly was right at home alone on a smaller stage, sans fancy dance moves or special effects.

Although he may have demonstrated some rock 'n' roll credibility, the supremely caucasian Carter almost derailed his own train when he proclaimed, ``For all them playa haters who didn't show up, they're going to miss one hell of a show.''

He may try on many styles in the future, but Carter might want to leave Gangsta Nick at home.

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