Album Review: "Wishbone" - Conan Gray
- Kaitlyn Nicole
- Aug 21
- 7 min read
Back breaking our heart again already, Conan Gray has release his fourth studio album, "Wishbone".
TRACKLIST
Actor
This Song
Vodka Cranberry
Romeo
My World
Class Clown
Nauseous
Caramel
Connell
Sunset Tower
Eleven Eleven
Care
If you don't know who Conan Gray is, you should. He's a brilliant songwriter with a voice from the heavens. His infectious personality and relatability makes you an instant fan before you even get a chance to hear his music - but the music makes it all the better. From a small town in Texas, Conan started posting videos on YouTube as a child and became an internet sensation. This led to him getting a record deal at Republic Records, where he officially debuted with his 2018 EP release, "Sunset Season". Conan is known for writing heartbreaking, vulnerable lyrics paired with infectious melodies. If you pay enough attention, a lot of his songs seem to lead back to one tragic story, which we finally see unfold in visual form within the music videos for his fourth studio album, "Wishbone". Let's dive into these tracks!!
Actor
We kick off the album with the heartbreaking, cinematic, tear-jerking introduction, "Actor". This song builds and builds until you just can't hold anything back anymore. Starting with beautiful acoustic guitar, and then bursting into marching drums and a full blown orchestra, "Actor" is about a secret love affair with someone that can't face who they really are. They hide themselves in the world with anger, and they take it out on the only person they truly loved. Conan sings of how they have to spend their lives pretending they never even knew each other, but this other person is a much better actor than him. Although, it sounds like the ex is falling apart just as much, and just covers it all up with drinking.
This Song
"This Song" was the first single and the first music video we got to experience within the "Wishbone" universe, and it was when we were introduced to the main characters of this chaotic love story, Wilson and Brando. "This Song" is where it all begins - two best friends who want to be more, but one is more afraid than the other to be themselves out in the open. The music video was a monumental moment, not only for Conan but for his fans as well, as he openly kissed someone for the very first time. The soundscape of this song sounds like a fairytale with acoustic guitar and orchestral strings. It's a cinematic experience with tension, leading up to a release once you realize that the feelings are mutual between both characters. However, an anxiety inducing lightning strike occurs right before the video ends, foreshadowing what is to come.
Vodka Cranberry
Continuing the story from "This Song", we have the second single release, "Vodka Cranberry" which has been stuck in my head since it came out and just might be the song of the year for me. "Vodka Cranberry" is about that type of relationship that turns sour. You still love the person, but it's very clear that they don't love you anymore. However, they absolutely refuse to leave you because they are a coward. The pain that comes from a scenario like this hardly mendable, which is perfectly executed through the music video where we see Brando full of unnecessary resentment towards Wilson, leading up to him abandoning Wilson in a roadside motel. "Vodka Cranberry" has an ear-worm chorus and a bridge with a high-note that'll bring you to your knees. When you hear the fade-out ending, tears will be streaming down your face.
Romeo
"Romeo" is the state of anger within the grieving process after a breakup. Conan is letting it all out with honest sass and rage. The song begins with medieval horns, but turns into an alternative 90's / early 2000's groove with a conversational tone coming out of Conan's mouth. He goes on to realize just how crappy his ex really is as a person, and says, "you're no Romeo" and is mad about how much time he wasted on him. I'm proud to hear him finally call someone out on their crap; it's time they get what they deserve!
My World
Next, we have "My World", which is like the ultimate letting go song and feels like being able to breathe again. I've never been happier for Conan than in this moment after listening to this song, as I feel like he's finally able to be himself and be happy without any strings attached. "My World" is perfectly upbeat with drums and synths, and not only says goodbye to that toxic relationship he had been holding onto, but says hello to the new control that he has on his life and his happiness. He sings, "It's my world and it's my life". It feels like closure and pure catharsis.
Class Clown
If you know anything about Conan Gray, you know that he didn't have an easy childhood. This is one of the reasons his fanbase has such a great connection to his music. If you're one of those people, you know that growing up with humor was one way to cover up the trauma you were going through. When you'd go to school, you'd crack jokes and make a fool of yourself to hide the true pain that you were going through. You didn't want anyone to know what was really going on at home, so you pretended to be happy. This is what "Class Clown" is about, but it's also about how even as an adult now, that feeling still always comes back sometimes. No matter how hard you try, that trauma still follows you and triggers when you least expect. The soundscape of this song is stomach churning, but it's meant to be that way. It's eerily beautiful; haunting.
Nauseous
"Nauseous" is sweetly slow, with a soulful tone and a classic groove of acoustic guitar, raw piano, drums and bass. It's about being scared to fall in love again or even trust anyone after having gone through so much hurt and betrayal in the past. It's even scarier when the person is someone you know is good, and that everyone else likes - but you just can't bring yourself to completely give in to them. It literally makes you nauseous. It's hard to let people in when you've been let down not only once, but several times before in your life.
Caramel
And the saga continues.... "Caramel" is part 3 of the Wilson and Brando journey. Sounding like a nostalgic pop/rock song straight out of a 90's teen romance movie, "Caramel" highlights the endless cycle of a toxic relationship that turns from love, to hatred, to lust. As bad as they hurt you, you can't shake how good they used to be and the old memories you had. You just wish it could be like that again, but it never will. So you keep letting them come back into your life, and break your heart over and over again, just for a little taste of that old life - even if it's not the same.
Connell
We're dropping names now with "Connell". Conan once said he was dumped mid-flight to London, and this song is about that. The song starts with a beautiful acoustic picking pattern and a stunning melody as Conan tears himself down, telling us just how crappy this "Connell" tragically made him feel in that moment. Then as we reach the end, Conan sings his name over and over as it turns into a rock ballad, but in an absolute apocalyptic, terrifying type of way. We hear the sound effects of a plane at the end, really just adding to the emotional impact of this personal story.
Sunset Tower
"Sunset Tower" references Tower Hotel in London, a place that Conan and the toxic main character of this album spent a lot of time together at. The song is about them both being in town, and not wanting to hear about all the affairs that his ex is having. Even if you are over something, it's understandable to not want to hear about your past lover anymore. The soundscape is full of reverb, guitars and synths, continuing that lovely 90's vibe we've been hearing throughout the album.
Eleven Eleven
Even if we don't believe in it, whenever we see the numbers "11:11" on the clock, the first thing we think of is to make a wish. In the case of the song "Eleven Eleven", Conan sings of all the superstitions such as wishbones, four leaf clovers, and horoscopes in hopes to get back the person he loved, even though deep down he knows it's not meant to be. This song has one of the most beautiful, addicting melodies off of the entire album. Conan does vocal flips and shows off his stunning falsetto that we all know and love. It's a love ballad of yearning that I can't wait see live.
Care
Last, but absolutely not least, we have the banger of a closer, "Care". The whole song is an ear-worm with a twangy riff and a nostalgic, energetic rhythm that makes you want to get up and dance around your room. Conan sings with celtic influence that is so different from anything he's ever done before, and it just WORKS so well with his heavenly voice. The song is about how even though someone from your past has hurt you, it's hard not to care about them still. Especially when you were friends before you were lovers, there's always going to be a part of you that wonders how they are, even if it stings every time you think about them.
With everything that Conan Gray puts out, he manages to create this whole new universe and experience that is mind-blowingly fresh and new. His last album, "Found Heaven" was straight out of the 80's, and I feel like with "Wishbone" we moved onto the next generation of sound within the 90's and more raw instrumentals. His storytelling and lyricism are underrated and award worthy. The emotion, vulnerability and relatability that goes into every single line is something hard to find in mainstream pop music nowadays. Even the "happy" songs bring tears to your eyes because you can feel Conan's heart and soul being put into every word and note he sings. I think "Wishbone" is the most honest and beautiful album that he's put out so far, and I'm so proud to have gotten to witness it. Stay tuned in September for my concert review of his tour!
Written By Kaitlyn Nicole
*copyright not intended. Fair use act, section 107.