Conan Gray’s fourth album, Wishbone, was a surprise to all of his fans. The first single released, “This Song,” had fans anticipating Gray’s first love album. “Vodka Cranberry,” the second single, quickly shattered this romantic fantasy.
Wishbone goes through all the stages of being in love and going through a breakup. The tracklist starts with “Actor,” examining Gray’s experience in a secret relationship.
The lyrics “Nobody wondered where you went all April / When my friends discovered when you left me in July / No I didn’t cry, kept the lie alive” summarize the energy of the album.
The remainder of the album centers on feelings of sadness and anger, with Gray trying to accept what happened. “Connell” and “Class Clown” touch on Gray’s past, along with him feeling that he doesn’t deserve love.
“Been tryna talk to my sister about it / We joke a million jokes through the phone / Nothing funny about that home / But her and I, we already know / Everything comes back around, l still feel like the class clown,” and “But deep in my bones, I know pain is what I earned /Yeah, you remind me of my father slurring words,” sets the scene of his childhood and how it manifests negative feelings.
I love the mixture of vibes in this album. You can go from song to song and feel so different. Some songs are very upbeat and others are very emotional. This is something Gray is extremely skilled at, and incorporates in all of his projects.
“Romeo”, “My World” and “Sunset Tower” are confident, angsty anthems that are fun to experience live and cycle through emotions you feel through breakups. “It’s my world and it’s my time / I’ll waste it how I might like / I don’t have you in my mind,” and “Spending my summer in love, then I went and got dumped / So I did it all, for what?” shows Gray expressing that he wants to be free from the past experiences. The upbeat tone of these songs further enforces the new reality Gray is living in since his breakup.
On April 24, Gray released a deluxe version of Wishbone including five new songs, as well as a single performed during the Wishbone World Tour.
The single that teased Wishbone Deluxe released March 27. “The Best” emphasizes that Gray wants to put these feelings in the past and finally wish them the best.
“The Best” is the final song on the deluxe and a great way to end. Hearing this song live before it officially came out is amazing. I like the backing vocals and instrumentals because it makes it sound so peaceful yet also kind of ominous.
My favorite song on the deluxe is “The House That Always Rains.” This song talks about Gray’s issues with abandonment. “I saw you in the doorframe of the house that always rains / Come and find me / Cause they’re shouting / In my house that always shakes.” The house symbolizes his heart and his fear of abandonment.
Other new songs are “Do I Dare?,” “Door” and “Moths.” These songs tackle struggling with the need to get over someone.
The deluxe songs add a more personal feel to the album. They all connect thoroughly. All of the songs develop a feeling of acceptance. The original album is great, but the deluxe finishes everything very well.
I truly loved this album and the deluxe. The lyrics are amazing and really thoughtful. I really enjoyed how all the songs feel connected, like it’s a whole story, not just a collection of songs. A lot of the songs had references to other songs in the album, such as “11:11’s, they all hear your name,” in “This Song” referencing “Eleven Eleven,” and “The door is closed,” in “Moths” referencing “I just need to close this door,” in “Door.” I cannot wait for what Gray releases next.
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