Redd Kross — the ’80s cult act founded by brothers Jeff and Steven McDonald that scored some minor college-radio hits as ’90s major-label alt-rockers — have signed to legendary indie imprint Merge Records and this August will deliver ‘Researching the Blues,’ the band’s first new album in 15 years.

The Internet was abuzz this morning with rumors of a reunion by The Smiths this fall, fueled by a report from Music-News.com that the band “are to throw their differences aside and return to the live stage this autumn.” After having a bit of fun with the rumors on Twitter, though, Johnny Marr quickly denied the report.

The original lineup of San Francisco’s Translator — the psychedelic-tinged New Wave rock act best remembered for its 1982 single ‘Everywhere That I’m Not’ — this week will release ‘Big Green Lawn,’ its fifth album and first in 26 years. The seven-track album’s out Tuesday, and you the song ‘Soul on Fire’ here.

Having already preempted their massive Manchester homecoming gigs with festival dates in Scandinavia and Germany, The Stone Roses have once again bumped up the start of their hugely anticipated summer reunion tour with a trio of just-announced smaller-venue concerts in Barcelona and Amsterdam in early June.

The classic ’80s-era lineup of Ultravox — Midge Ure, Billy Currie, Chris Cross and Warren Cann, who reunited onstage in 2009 for the first time since Live Aid — this spring will follow up their comeback tours with the 12-track Brilliant, their first new studio album together in 28 years, EMI Records announced today.

Dreams So Real — featured in the landmark rock doc ‘Athens, GA: Inside/Out’ and whose debut single and album were produced by R.E.M.’s Peter Buck — are reuniting for a pair of rare concerts next month, and are whetting fans’ appetites by streaming a previously unreleased early-’90s demo.

As promised, he newly reunited Dead Can Dance will tour North America this summer, today announcing a 16-date tour of the U.S. and Canada this August and September that’ll include a two-night stand at New York City’s Beacon Theatre and a tour-ending show in Austin, Texas.