Conan Gray’s fourth album, Wishbone, paints a devastating portrait of the beauty of falling in love and falling out of it. The album is written by Gray himself with production by Dan Nigro, Ethan Gruska, and Noah Conrad. Wishbone was released under Republic Records, telling the story of Wilson and Brando, two original characters created by Gray. 

A Return to Form

After the release of Gray’s third studio album, Found Heaven, an experimental and 80s-inspired production, Wishbone is a return to the artist’s signature style and sound. The YouTuber turned pop star rose to fame creating bedroom pop with singles such as “Idle Town” and “Grow.” Wishbone is reminiscent of these soft pop hits due to its relatability; however, it showcases Gray’s growth as an artist through his confidence and maturity in his songwriting. The album takes the classic pop and pop-rock genres and adds a twist of vulnerability and intimacy that only Gray can weave throughout the album. 

The artist’s emotionally raw storytelling takes front and center with the music videos for the Wishbone trilogy, including “This Song,” “Vodka Cranberry,” and “Caramel.” The videos star Wilson, played by Gray himself, and Brando, played by former Disney actor Corey Fogelmanis, following their whirlwind romance. It’s a personal glimpse into the life of Gray, acting as a return to his roots and hometown, which is extensively documented on his early YouTube channel. The “This Song” video shows the beauty and innocence in new relationships through vignettes of Wilson and Brando’s intimacy. “Vodka Cranberry” shines a light on the cracks in the relationship between the two, with the toxicity hiding behind the idealized version from the previous video. Lastly, “Caramel” shows that even though the relationship has problems, there is a lasting sweetness that brings the two back together through everything. It is a contained story of love and loss that is bittersweet with tenderness and unpredictability. The videos are raw, even in their dramatization, creating a small but personal cinematic universe for listeners to follow Gray’s story through Wishbone. 

Heartwrenching Pop Ballads

The album begins with “Actor,” a rage-filled ballad that contrasts Gray’s light vocals with acoustic guitar and drums that build along with the anger behind the lyrics. It details a secret love where one side easily acts like the relationship didn’t exist, while Conan struggles to put on the act. This is directly followed by “This Song,” a song that reads like a personal diary entry screaming into the void.