4.0 out of 5.0 stars
On Aug. 15, Conan Gray released his fourth studio album, “Wishbone,” which tells a story that blends heartbreak and love beautifully. This emotional, melodic album is a standout, with strong production and even stronger lyrics. “Wishbone” acts as Gray’s return to the indie pop ballads that have defined his signature style, but with an older, deeply personal ambience.
The American indie pop singer and songwriter gained popularity in 2020 with his album “Kid Krow,” featuring the song “Heather,” which particularly gained popularity on TikTok. Gray’s music is raw, emotional and relatable for teenagers experiencing their first loves and heartbreaks. “Wishbone” is no different because it explores failed relationships and coming to terms with past traumas.
The album opens with the song “Actor,” which is about a relationship being hidden and disguised from the world. The chorus says, “And the church bells won’t stop ringing / For an undead wedding day / And you’ve spent the summer drinking / While I spent it being erased.” This track is extremely intimate, as the strumming of the guitar meets Gray’s solemn voice singing about coming to terms with a relationship that wasn’t reciprocated in the way he had hoped. The post-chorus says, “Let’s pretend nothing happened, I agree / But you’re a much better actor than me.” Although the song starts slow and somber, the chorus gains intensity and shows the deep passion prominent in the rest of the album.
Musically, the songs on this album feature many different instruments that all come together to create an unfiltered and emotional sound. In songs like “Actor,” “Vodka Cranberry,” and “This Song,” the acoustic guitar is very prominent. This brings Gray’s voice to the forefront, especially during the choruses and bridges where his emotional delivery feels even more passionate. Gray lets his vocals lead throughout this album, with the acoustic guitar, drums and keyboard prominently adding to the emotional depth of the album as a whole.
The opening of “Wishbone” brings Conan Gray fans back to his past studio albums, “Superache” and “Kid Krow.” His most popular songs evoke emotions that are relatable to teenagers experiencing love for the first time, only to come to terms with endings they are dreading. “Wishbone” demonstrates Gray’s ability to dive deeper and create a storyline that brings listeners through an incredibly intimate and emotionally complex relationship.
“Nauseous” is a track on the album that breaks down moments of Gray’s past and explores fears he has about letting himself be vulnerable with somebody else. He discusses his fear of abandonment and how that reflects in his relationships today. In the second verse of the song, he says, “With people before / They left like a falling floor / And there as I soared / I vowed to be never more.” Gray expresses his experiences in the past that have led him to this point. He recognizes who he has become because of the people he has been with previously. The rest of the song brings forth the same feelings with a slower and deeper instrumentation that encapsulates the sadness of the lyrics.
One thing “Wishbone” is missing is the ’80s inspiration that was featured on “Found Heaven.” Listeners who enjoyed the return of that style of music won’t necessarily find that on “Wishbone,” with each song radiating indie-folk undertones that are more closely aligned with modern influences like Taylor Swift and Lorde. However, this album brings listeners back to the classic Conan Gray style.
Overall, “Wishbone” is a deeply raw album that pairs well with Gray’s style as a musician. This body of work has defined Gray as an artist and has furthered his narrative as a young person navigating relationships and processing emotions that deeply resonate with his fans. The tracks on this album flow together well, blending various indie subgenres to create one cohesive piece of work. Each song has a different vibe, but all feel like chapters in the same story.
