Conan Gray’s fourth studio album, “Wishbone,” released on Aug. 15. As a long time fan since his early Youtube videos, I was incredibly excited by the announcement. Honestly, I didn’t love Gray’s last album “Found Heaven” and haven’t found myself listening to it much since its release in 2024. However, I had high expectations for this release, and it did not disappoint.
The record follows the release of three singles and videos, “This Song,” “Vodka Cranberry” and “Caramel.” Named by Gray as the “Wishbone Trilogy,” each video tells the fictional love story of Will (played by Gray) and Bran (played by Cory Fogelmanis). These videos and songs captured my attention from the second I hit play. The storyline perfectly aligned with the meaning of each lyric and felt like I was watching a movie I never wanted to end.
I immediately fell in love with the rest of the album once it was released. Each track is packed with angsty lyricism and climatic instrumentals. Produced with Dan Nigro, the record keeps Gray’s usual melodramatic flare whilst still bringing a fresh energy and sound.
The album opens with “Actor,” a song about an illicit relationship that has ended with Gray holding resentment towards the other person. He sings “Let’s pretend nothing happened, I agree / but you’re a much better actor than me.” Lyrically, I think this song is one of Gray’s standouts, with the chorus’ “The church bells won’t stop ringing for an undead wedding day” sinking in right away.
One song that I haven’t been able to put down is “Naseous.” It’s a relatable track about realizing you’re falling in love and instantly feeling sick at the thought. Gray writes “I’m haunted by people who’ve left / so you scare me to death,” unveiling the real meaning behind his lack of trust when it comes to romantic partners. The chorus is addicting, with layers of Gray’s voice resembling a choir each time he sings the title.
The track that has become my favorite is the final track “Care,” in which Gray sings about an ex that he has fallen out of love with, yet can’t stop caring for. The song has an uplifting and hopeful tempo, reminiscent of the feeling of knowing you’re almost ready to move forward. Rather than being sad to let go, to me this song feels like the acceptance of love lingering in your heart, and being okay with it.
Overall, I would say that this album is my favorite of Gray’s since his debut “Kid Krow.” It further cements his talents as a songwriter and vocalist, as well as delivering a diverse range of tracks that all feel like a punch to the gut.
*Editor’s note: Janycia Otero is a student writer. All views expressed in the commentary are her own and are independent of the district, Rouse High School and the publication.