Conan Gray’s fourth studio album, “Wishbone,” was released on August 15, 2025.
After years of chasing pop perfection, Gray has slowly returned to his roots. The album was penned in hotel rooms, tour buses, and at home in sweatpants. The album was co-produced by her frequent collaborator Dan Nigro, as well as Ethan Gruska, Noah Conrad, Elvira Anderfjärd, and Luka Kloser.
The gamble paid off: Wishbone debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200, making it the rapper’s highest-charting album to date.
The songs are like chapters of a breakup diary. “Actor” sets the tone immediately: a gut punch of heartbreak built on acoustic guitar and ghostly backing vocals that pull listeners into his grief.
“This Song” came out in May and gained popularity among fans. It is a quieter, confessional song about unspoken love and the wistful memories it creates.
“Vodka Cranberry,” his July single, is about the kind of haze one would experience after drinking too many vodka cranberries. The trumpet intro and slide guitar on “Romeo” give the song a bold, dramatic weight fitting of its Shakespearean title.
Deeper cuts like “Nauseous,” “Caramel,” “Class Clown,” and “Connell” continue this unraveling, as she sings about trauma, self-image, and the memories that won’t leave her.
Critics have widely praised the album. Euphoriazine termed the work “top-notch” in production, vocals, and songwriting. Pop Passion Blog called it “The most honest and beautiful album he’s put out so far.” AP News stated that “Wishbone cements Gray as a Gen-Z pop tastemaker while also returning him to the intimate bedroom-pop roots that first won him an audience.”
Some pointed out the album’s unevenness, although many felt this was intentional, since love and heartbreak are inherently messy. Reddit listeners particularly praised “Nauseous,” “Romeo,” and “Care” as the strongest tracks on the album, noting that Gray’s songwriting and vocals had never been more stunning.
In the end, “Wishbone” doesn’t aim to be perfect; it aims to be authentic. That is why it works. Conan Gray has created an album that aches and heals simultaneously and stays long after it is over. It’s a call back to the rawness that turned him into a star for longtime fans. It also shows new listeners that Gray has matured into one of the most essential voices in pop music today.