On Friday, April 24th, Conan Gray released Wishbone Deluxe. While Wishbone was released in August, Conan made a statement in March explaining how he felt like there was more to the story.
On March 27th, Conan released “The Best” as a single for the deluxe album, also announcing that four more songs would be released as well. The song titles were released in an Instagram scavenger hunt in the week leading up to the release. The new songs were titled “Do I Dare,” “House That Always Rains,” “Door,” and “Moths.”
Do I Dare
“Do I Dare” was the first of the new songs on the album, starting with strings and guitar. These instruments were the main ones used throughout the song, making for a dreamlike, romantic mood. The lyrics also fit this mold, with lines about wanting to reach out and repair a broken relationship, but being too afraid of getting hurt in the process. I enjoyed this song, but felt it was a little bit lackluster compared to others on the album. The chorus was catchy but very repetitive, and while I really liked the instrumentals, the lyrics were slightly boring and didn’t carry as much emotion as his lyrics normally do. Overall, though, I definitely enjoyed this song.
House That Always Rains
“House That Always Rains” was the second new track on the album, and it was definitely a lot different from what I expected. I thought it would be slow and sad, but the music was actually peppy and upbeat, with guitar and drums. Although the music was happy, the lyrics carried a deeper meaning. Conan sang about how his lover grew up in a “house that always rains,” while he grew up in a “house that always shakes.” He went on to sing about how that was likely why their relationship failed and how he wished he would have been kinder towards his lover. I really enjoyed this song. The contrast between the happiness of the music and the sadness of the lyrics created a unique blend of emotions, and overall it was very fun to listen to.
Door
“Door” was the third new song, and probably the saddest. With a slow beat and sad chords, it definitely set the mood for the lyrics, which were about trying to move on from heartbreak and closing a door, hence the name of the song. Even though Conan knew his lover treated him badly, he was still in love with them, saying he’d leave the door open for “Only you, my love.” In my opinion, this was one of the best new songs. The lyrics were perfect, and the music did a great job of capturing the mood. It’s emotionally devastating, which is what makes it so good.
Moths
“Moths” was the final new song on the album (not counting “The Best”), as well as my personal favorite. The song was carried primarily by warm guitar, which gave the song a very bittersweet feeling. The lyrics were about actually moving on and accepting that a person won’t come back, but knowing that you’ll always be there for them if they do. The bridge was incredible, and the final chorus layered multiple parts of the song together really well, and I feel like it captured the emotion perfectly. It was my favorite of the new songs, and I think it was a great way to end the album.
