I still remember the moment when I stifled an excited squeal and fixated my eyes on the countdown to the Wishbone album release. I hid under the covers and listened intently to my headphones late into the night. My ears were blessed with the angelic vocals of the artist I admired so much, his familiar voice and prominent music style transporting my mind into a world of raw emotion and artistry. Conan Gray’s fourth studio album, released on August 15, 2025, is nothing short of an absolute masterpiece.
This album is Gray’s best work yet, and brings his singing and songwriting to a whole new caliber. I now realize the talent and potential of this emerging pop star. Before this album came out, I had only listened to Gray’s most popular songs on occasion, such as “Heather” and “Maniac,” as they were trending on the internet. I was especially familiar with “Heather” because of an internet trend of giving someone a sweater on December 3, a reference to the lyrics of that song. The promotion of this album brought me to listen to more of his work, including some lesser-known songs such as “Generation Why”, “Lookalike”, and “Alley Rose,” which soon became my favorites. I immediately fell in love with his voice, style, and his spectacular ability to express raw emotions through music and storytelling. Listening to his other album Found Heaven, I was stunned by his talent for singing.
I counted down the seconds to his release, excited for the new musical narratives and hoping the album would resonate with my own experiences. In this sense, his album most certainly did not disappoint. Wishbone perfectly encapsulates the queer teenage experience, portraying the angst and yearning that feels so familiar to many. Many of his songs have themes like self acceptance, societal pressures, and unrequited love, which are things that resonate with the queer community, so his ability to articulate these feelings provides validation for those going through similar experiences. Listening to this album felt like a personal rollercoaster, and I couldn't help but feel a deep connection and understanding to his stories and emotions, which healed me in a way I never knew was possible. It feels as if, in his songwriting, Gray was voicing my most inner thoughts.
Having listened to many tracks in this album multiple times at this point, I am still constantly impressed by the uniqueness and quality of Gray’s music, as well as his more defined and powerful vocals. The high note in “Vodka Cranberry” holds me in a chokehold and stands as a testament to his artistic abilities.
Wishbone is the best album I have come across this year, defining Gray’s voice and style while elevating him to new heights in the music industry. I recommend Wishbone to anyone seeking an emotional and relatable musical experience. I admire Gray deeply for bringing such raw emotions to his listeners, and I am incredibly proud of how far he has come in his music career.