Some might have been surprised to see Dallas-via-NYC psych/space-rock outfit The Secret Machines lineup up for a date at Lee’s Palace tomorrow night. Some might be surprised that the band is even still together – after all, when one third of a band quits, as guitarist Ben Curtis did last Spring, questions about their future are logical.

But as it happens they’re not only still carrying on as a duo with support players, they’ve got a new album in the can, their third and first since 2006’s Ten Silver Drops. Billboard reports that the band’s third album will be a self-titled affair and be released independently this Fall, most likely in October.

There’s been no hint as to what the reconfigured band sounds like, though Spin visited them in the studio earlier this year and talked to Josh Garza, so in the meantime make do with some older stuff.

MP3: The Secret Machines – “Nowhere Again”
Video: The Secret Machines – “Nowhere Again”
Video: The Secret Machines – “Lightning Blue Eyes”
Video: The Secret Machines – “All At Once (It’s Not Important)”
MySpace: The Secret Machines

BeatRoute talks to Steve Earle. They also offer up a concise history of alt.country. Or tries to, at least.

Filter talks to Stephen Malkmus and director Todd Haynes about Bob Dylan while eye, JamBase and hour.ca feature Fleet Foxes. Both are at the Phoenix on Wednesday night, July 16.

A reason to stop catching up on Nick Cave’s back catalog for the immediate future – Uncut reports that his entire catalog will be getting remastered and expanded starting with his first four records by year’s end. Of course, it’s going to take them some time to get to the next ones I was planning on picking up so maybe I can splurge that $8 right now. Cave is at the Kool Haus on October 1.

Sloan have released the first video from their new album Parallel Play. Here welcomes the band to New Brunswick.

Video: Sloan – “Believe In Me”

Also with a new video clip are Death Cab For Cutie, the second from Narrow Stairs.

Video: Death Cab For Cutie – “Cath…”

NOW features local boys The Coast, who will do their damnedest to fit in at Edgefest up at Downsview Park tomorrow.

Wolf Parade talks to The Seattle Times and The Georgia Straight. They’re at the Kool Haus August 9.

Muzzle Of Bees chats with Centro-Matic’s Will Johnson.

Matt Berninger of The National talks to An Aquarium Drunkard.

Drowned In Sound and The Quietus feature Primal Scream, who release Beautiful Future on July 21.

Neil Halstead tells Exclaim to not hold their breath for a Slowdive reunion. His next solo record Oh! Mighty Engine is out July 29.

Wayne Coyne gives Billboard some vague notions about what the next Flaming Lips record might sound like, whenever it’s finished.

The Quietus visits Iceland, Bjork and Sigur Ros.

Steve Albini’s Shellac will make their Toronto debut at the Horseshoe on September 16. Tickets $18.

MP3: Shellac – “Watch Song”

Though they ended up bailing on their NxNE appearance, The French Kicks will be coming to town for a show at the Horseshoe on September 17 with The Whigs in tow, tickets for that are $11.50. Their new album Swimming is out now and the band was featured on Daytrotter last month.

The September 24 Mogwai show will not be at the Kool Haus, as originally announced, but once again at the Phoenix. The Hawk Is Howling is still coming out September 23.