Another week, another Mercury music section to ignore while you read the Beatles' anti-segregation contract from their 1965 show at the Cow Palace in Daly City, CA. Nice one, but I can't believe Paul McCartney would want to play inside a palace made entirely of cows. What a sellout.

We always knew that Nurses might be able to top their brilliant Apple's Acre debut some day, but we had no idea that day would come so soon. The resplendent Dracula is a recording loaded with visionary sounds, the band's newfound low-end, and it is an album you won't soon forget.
LISTEN:

Nurses - "You Lookin' Twice"

Are Hey Lover one of those couple bands whose unbridled passion for each other spills over into their lively music and just the mere act of watching them onstage fills your cold heart with petty jealously? Yes, yes they are.
LISTEN:

Hey Lover - "Our Heads in a Hole"

You can't spell Radiation City without the word "rad" and the Portland pop quartet's debut The Hands That Take You is most certainly rad. [Really? You can do better than this "rad" description. Do not publish until you fix this.—Ed.]
LISTEN:

Radiation City - "The Color of Industry"

It's been a rough year for the Old Growth dudes, but the trio isn't going to let life get them down when they have ear drums to puncture with their classic rock versus garage punk sound.
LISTEN:

Old Growth - "Bloody Knuckle Beach"

End Hits: We got nurses, lovers, cities, and trees.