Conan Gray has once again released a beautiful album with emotional depth, compelling storytelling, and phenomenal vocals. Wishbone has specifically stood out for me and quickly became my favorite out of all of his work.
Gray started his music career at the young age of 19, after releasing his first EP titled Sunset Season. Since then, he has published his first album Kid Krow, then Superache, and then Found Heaven. Each of these albums convey an overarching message or story, which is why I personally am so compelled to his music. And Wishbone, somehow, outshined all his previous work tenfold.
Each song in this album conveys a story, focusing on little moments. When added together, you start to see the full picture being encapsulated, with the journey from track to track. To say that this album is flawless seems like an understatement. The way the songs talk to each other makes relistening to this album even better than the first time, as you’re able to pick up on so much more each time.
Gray also tackles such raw and vulnerable emotions within his lyrics. This truth and vulnerability that he chooses to share enhances the album immensely.
The lead single of this album is titled “This Song”, and it’s a love song. In an interview, Gray discussed the reason he made this the lead single was so his fans could go through what he had—feelings of being in love that transform into heartbreak.
This leads into the second single, “Vodka Cranberry” which speaks to “This Song” directly as the lyrics transfer from “You know that I love you” to “I know you hate me.” “Vodka Cranberry” features some of Gray’s most talented vocals as well. With him not only hitting, but full-voicing an impressively high note, that for the record, neither I nor anyone I have crossed paths with has been able to sing in the same power he had. This song is highly emotional within the lyrics with a contrasting upbeat melody. Leaving listeners unsure if they should cry or dance.
“My World” stood out as one of my favorites just from the first listen, this track is fun and has a bit of sass in it as well. This song discusses a theme of getting over someone and reclaiming yourself in the process. The chorus summing this up perfectly: “It’s my world and it’s my life // It’s my girl and it’s my guy” along with “It’s my world and it’s my time // I’ll waste it how I might like // I don’t have you in mind.” While being very fun, Gray also sprinkles a bit of pettiness throughout the song as well, with one of my favorite lyrics in the whole album being in the bridge “You got your revenge by being stuck with your life // So you can keep drinking and living a lie // And talking all low when you’re out with the guys.” Something about the way he delivers these lyrics tickles my brain in just the right way, making me return to this song quite often.
“Nauseous” quite literally makes me nauseous, as it’s the most somber track in the whole album. The best way—or in my opinion the only way—to listen to this song would be in bed with headphones on late at night. Line after line as you listen, the song only becomes more devastating, discussing how loving someone can be so utterly cruel, but no matter how hard you may try to get rid of it this feeling still lingers. In my interpretation, it feels like he has laid out every fear he has with this romantic interest and replicates perfectly the spiral your thoughts can get when someone is not reciprocating the same feeling back as strongly. As the song is entering its peak moment, Gray sings “I know that it’s in me to really love someone // But that’s not a thing that I learned from my loved ones.” This truly encapsulates how devastating this time in his life was.
“Eleven Eleven” is my personal favorite from this album. As someone who is incredibly superstitious, this song could not describe my experience more. It discusses wishing for someone and linking every sign they see to this person that they are interested in, and how, in the end, their wishing wasn’t enough to make them stay. I also enjoy how Gray made it track 11 on the album.
I would recommend this album to absolutely everyone. The way the tracks interact with each other while also standing out individually is truly what makes this a masterpiece.
