Release date : Oct 14, 2008 Courtesy of Relix.com by Rob O'Connor Replacing a guitar player in a guitar-oriented band isn’t a casual reshuffling even if the band’s main writer stays aboard. For Secret Machines’ self-titled third album, Phil Karnats takes over for Ben Curtis and the volume is turned up, subtle textures are replaced with sheets of guitars and singer Brandon Curtis, the band’s bassist and main writer, turns in one cheeky glam-psych pose after another, pushing forth with newfound confidence until at times he’s understudying Bowie. “Atomic Heels” skirts the roots of ‘70s glam. “Last Believer, Drop Dead” dreams of an ecstasy-fueled dancefloor where the Psychedelic Furs pilot a pop-addled version of “Astronomy Domine.” “The Walls are Starting to Crack” breaks into little pieces that inexplicably jam together. “The Fire is Waiting” expands into a long exploratory tune caught somewhere between ‘60s psychedelia and ‘80s college rock.