Psychic Ills - Dins

Nobody liked Mirror Eye? I'm mixed on it myself. Quite different from Dins, not all in a good way to my mind--no blowout epics, for one. The arrangements seem too skeletal to be as atmospheric as they'd like to come across. Some of the tunes sound as if they just needed some more development. In a way it sounds like they just released some of their demos.

I hadn't realized they had a new one coming out, but boy that Pfork review doesn't make it sound worth tracking down in the least. Anyone able to offer up a differing opinion? That doesn't sound a direction I'd wanted these dudes to take at all.

They played an excellent set last night. Not sold on the new record, but they're in fine form as a live entity.

I haven't really been sold on anything they've done in a while but still feel compelled to listen to each new one as it comes out. Really wanted to like Hazed Dream but to me it just sounds like they're doing versions of "Come Down Easy" and "Call the Doctor" over and over. The new one has a little more variety but I dunno. They're just not that great I guess.

I'd see them live again anytime, but I have no compulsion to listen to anything they've recorded of late. It's a shame how tepid the last few records are when the live show is so good.

ok, EZ, i want to like this band (liked some of their previous stuff) but also find the new one a little tepid.

but, i also would love to be convinced to make a short drive to go see them (and Follakzoid and Kinski) in a couple weeks. i am on the fence about this.

so ... how/why is the live show so much better than the tepid new album? would be very interested to hear if/when you have a second.

excited to see them sunday

i'm not super familiar with em, so i've been digging that new record. the previous ones are better?

new record not as good as the previous (which i really dig) but still a million times better than that one with the tambourine on the front

yeah that one was my least favorite too.

I would rank them Dins > Hazed Dream > One Track Mind > Mirror Eye

alpine static -

I think that live there is a tension within the music that is entirely missing from the last few records. They are right on the edge of falling apart, but it's like the they're all tethered together so as each leans in a different direction the rope stays taut. I really thought they were going to lose it a couple of times, that they would get too slow to hold the beat, that the keys would stop comping the chords and the two guitarists would spiral off too far from the tune, but as a unit they are able to step it up and keep the slack from happening. Watching a band succeed at walking that line of being telepathically loose but never, ever sloppy I found exhilarating.

And the sound is much fuller; the woozy lurch is richer, more engaging. Also, talking with Tres after the show he said each night they're getting better and better. If that continues they could be something quite special by the time they come through town. Though honestly, I'd go to see Kinski in a heartbeat so them on the bill would just be icing on the cake.

However, please note that I'm a sucker for their kind of Velvety quaalude sound at high volume. I'm sure I'd like the last couple of records more through a big stonkin' PA.

Awesome. Thanks, EZ. That definitely helps. (And yes, Kinski's presence on the bill helps tremendously. Other circumstances - young kids, the drive, no $ - are the biggest things keeping me away.)

I actually really like the new record, but its the first one I've heard since the Dins/Early Violence era and I'm kinda surprised its the same band tbh. But this is right up my alley.

I haven't heard anything since the post-Mirror Eye EPs. No idea that they had a new recThey still have alot of potential as a band, , so I'm glad to hear a few positive reports.

the lazy sleaze of hazed dream really works for me

This seems to be the kind of band I'd normally like, but I'm really struggling to get through One Track Mind at the moment... there's something about this album that just feels kinda flat :/

i feel the same way. still love dins though.

RIP Tres
https://pitchfork.com/news/psychic-ills-tres-warren-dead-at-41/

i put on Dins after seeing the news, it's so good. i really like Inner Journey Out, too.

Very sad, they were about to start recording again too.