Elliot Hilden, co-executive editor

I am no stranger to the works of Conan Gray, as I’ve been a massive fan since the very beginning of his career with his 2018 single “Grow.” Even with this storied history of enjoying his music, his newest album, “Wishbone,” may be my favorite album of his yet. This twelve-song album has become the soundtrack to much of my life since the release on Aug. 15, playing through my headphones or computer speakers in any manner of situations. The album is a pop-rock record influenced by 90s pop and alternative rock and tells a story of heartbreak, grief, anger and realization as Gray processes a past relationship. 

The album featured three singles: “This Song,” “Vodka Cranberry,” and “Caramel.” With each single came an accompanying music video, starring Gray and his close friend Corey Fogelmanis as Wilson and Brando, respectively, as they tell the heartbreaking and emotional story of their relationship. “This Song” follows the beginning stages of the relationship, exploring the hope and yearning that comes early in a relationship. The video ends with a kiss between Wilson and Brando, signifying their blossoming relationship. The music video for “Vodka Cranberry” continues their story but explores the detachment of a straining relationship. Wilson and Brando start to notice cracks in their relationship due to Brando being closeted, and the video eventually ends with Brando leaving Wilson alone in a hotel room. “Caramel” serves as the narrative closure for the trio, as Wilson and Brando are reunited, and the video is meant to show that they will never really be rid of one another as their toxic relationship cycle continues over and over.

My personal favorite song on the album is track seven, “Nauseous.” The song explores the way that being in a toxic relationship can cause trauma and greatly impacts Gray’s ability to be in a relationship again due to the fears that they will leave. The song’s structure and buildup make it feel much more intense than other songs on the album, with it being much slower and softer and eventually crashing over in the bridge of the song. 

While the song is  sonically beautiful, I also think it has incredible lyricism, as Gray incorporates creative writing into his vulnerability to craft these songs. “Nauseous” is written in second person perspective, where Gray is singing to a potential love interest as he explains that their affection is distressing even though he knows it really shouldn’t be, as seen in the chorus with the lyrics “Your love is a threat and I’m nauseous / Scares me to death how I want it / Not common sense, but I’m haunted / By people who’ve left, so you scare me to death.” My favorite part of the song is absolutely the bridge, where Gray’s heartbroken and fragile voice sings some of my favorite lyrics on the entire album: “Maybe I’m here waiting for someone / To get through my years of trying to trust them / I know that it’s in me to really love someone / But that’s not a thing that I learned from my loved ones.”

Some other notable favorites of mine include “Actor,” “Romeo,” “Class Clown” and “Connell.” I highly recommend that everyone reading this checks out the album and music videos mentioned, as this is my personal sad song album to end all sad song albums. Gray will also be embarking on the “Wishbone World Tour” in Feb. 2026, with the first stop being in our very own Minneapolis at The Armory!