If the last Dream Nails record was a Molotov cocktail tossed at a burning world, their third outing, You Wish, is the morning spent surveying the ash. It is an album born from a period of heavy rotation; after shrinking to a three-piece and shifting bassist Mimi Jasson into the lead vocal spot, the band has moved away from the blunt-force trauma of 2023’s Doom Loop. What we get instead is a spiritual recalibration that seeks out magic and resilience in the cracks of a digital dystopia.
The record leans into a new, lighter sonic palette right from the start. “The Only Way Out Is Through” kicks things off with a rhythmic, pulsing tension that eventually gives way to a breezy, West Coast-inspired groove. It’s a slow-burn introduction that might test the patience of those looking for a quick hit, but it perfectly mirrors the album’s theme of persistent survival. The momentum really picks up with “This Is Water,” a lush piece of alternative rock that trades shouting for a stream-of-consciousness meditation on nature and self-worth. It feels like the band is finally comfortable taking up space without needing to scream to be heard.
However, the trio hasn’t entirely lost their bite. “Organoid” is a high-voltage standout, delivering a funky, serrated critique of how technology is slowly hollowing out our humanity. Jasson’s vocal performance here is electric, pivoting between a cool, detached irony and a frantic, visceral snarl. It’s the kind of track that demands a live audience to fully breathe. On the heavier side, “The Spirit Does Not Burn” offers a grittier, grunge-flecked riff that provides some much-needed weight to balance out the more “bubblegum” indie experiments like “Pack My Wax.”
There is no denying that You Wish is a transition record. Because the band opted for a more collaborative, freewriting approach this time around, a few moments feel more like sketches than finished masterpieces. Tracks such as “House of Bones” bring a cool, spoken-word poetic flair to the table, but other sections can feel slightly thin, as if the band is still figuring out how to fill the gaps left by their previous members.
But there is a real bravery in this pivot. By diving into everything from horse spirituality to folk-driven finales like “A Sign,” Dream Nails have successfully leapt out of their comfort zone. It’s a slightly unpolished, inquisitive, and deeply human collection of songs. They might be asking different questions now, but their refusal to provide easy answers is exactly what makes them stay relevant.
