Conan Gray, Superache | Album Review 💿

Conan Gray continues to expand and improve his artistry and craft, shining on his stellar sophomore album, Superache.

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ollowing a two-year hiatus, 🎙 Conan Gray has returned! Gray has so many pros: dashing good looks, a sublime voice, and a great personality that shines through his performances. Furthermore, judging by the many singles released prior to 💿 Superache, it’s clear that Gray is only getting better and better with time. His sophomore album doesn’t disappoint with plenty of standouts and zero duds.

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“Movies” 

“Movies, movies / I want a love like the movies.” Indeed, Conan Gray.  He does a magnificent job of conveying starry-eyed infatuation on 🤩 🎵 “Movies”.  He delivers beautiful, expressive vocals that make you buy what he’s selling about love.  “Movies” features lovely accompaniment by acoustic guitar early on, allowing Gray’s voice to be the focal point. More instrumentation arrives during the second verse –  a natural progression.  Gray is more assertive, integrating grit paralleling his emotions.  During the centerpiece, the chorus, there is splendid vocal layering and harmonization; I love Gray’s falsetto. All told, “Movies” is a fantastic opener.

Gray sings beautifully on 🎵  “People Watching”, an advanced single from July 2021. He has a tuneful, memorable melody to work with on the verses.  Furthermore, the songwriting is superb, finding Gray doing what he does best – telling stories:  “He’s making fun of how she acted around the holidays / She wears a ring, but they tell people that they’re not engaged.” In the chorus, he elevates his game, singing with more conviction.  It makes sense that his passion is heightened, as he wants to be the one experiencing love, not merely people-watching:

“But I wanna feel all that love and emotion

Be that attached to the person I’m holdin’

Someday I’ll be falling, without caution

But for now, I’m only people watchin’.”

Two and a half minutes is sufficient time for Conan to compel. Follow-up 🤩 🎵 “Disaster” is peppy from the onset.  The groove instantly makes the ears perk up! Furthermore, the melody is incredibly rhythmic. Again, Gray deserves credit for his remarkable voice. Likewise, the production is on-point with its colorful synths. “Disaster” gives 80s New Wave vibes.  The most important section, the chorus, is a big-time selling point as Conan speaks of the hypothetical disaster – “Where I say, ‘I love you,’ and you don’t say it after?” It’s another musical win.

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“Best Friend” 

As you’d expect, 🎵 “Best Friend” is about friendship.  In Conan’s hands, the friend(s) aren’t just his ‘best friend,’ but his “fucking best friend, that’s my fucking right hand.” Gray is profane AF, serving up no shortage of f-bombs.  Is it necessary? Probably not, but I find the contrast of a relatively low-key performance with the bite of swearing intriguing.  Compared to the verses, the chorus is more energetic without being overblown. 

“As much as it seems like you own my heart / It’s astronomy, we’re two worlds apart.” Ah, Conan Gray captures the plight of love perfectly on 🤩 🎵 “Astronomy”. The relationship is dying – running its course. Despite having “Seen everything from Saturn to Mars,” things have changed, and the two people have, regrettably, drifted apart. A classy record, Gray sings sincerely. His tone matches the singer/songwriter vibe, depicting the good times they’ve experienced as a couple, yet ultimately admitting, “It’s time to go.” The second verse features one of the most gut-wrenching lyrics: “I thought if I wandered, I’d fall back in love / You said distance brings fondness but guess not with us.” Ouch! In the bridge, the intensity is ramped up exponentially relative to the rest of the song.  Gray just lets her rip.

🤩 🎵 “Yours” marks one of Gray’s best songs to date. Conan and 🎼 ✍ 🎛 Daniel Nigro continue to be a match made in musical heaven. Gray continues his angelic singing, conveying plenteous emotion. “I know I’m not the one you really love, I guess that’s why I’ve never given up,” he sings in the first verse, “‘Cause I could give you all you want / The stars and the sun, but still, I’m not enough.” “Yours” presents a strong, ultra-relatable case of unrequited love. Gray serves as our musical torchbearer.  He wants this person to love him but it’s just not there.  Two of the strongest moments come by way of the chorus and the bridge. “I want more, but I’m not yours / And I can’t change your mind,” he sings in the chorus. The bridge, the final section we hear, finds Conan admitting his stupidity in pursuing something going nowhere: “Can’t believe I chose you / Over all my best friends / What the fuck did I do / In the end? / Just to not be yours.”  He shines like a beacon, exhibiting artistry, musicianship, and connection with the listeners. Unrequited love never sounded so good!

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“Jigsaw”

“I’ve changed every part of me / Until the puzzle pieces aren’t me, at all.” All for the sake of love!  Sadly, on the utterly sublime pop/rock gem, 🤩 🎵 “Jigsaw”, Gray discovers changing himself for somebody else paid no dividends. In other words, he still didn’t end up getting true, genuine love, let alone being appreciated for whom he was before becoming “just a jigsaw.” He never forces things, sounding effortless, even on the more assertive chorus.  In the chorus, we get some ripe falsetto; some of the highest notes Conan has ever sung. Additionally, there are lush vocal harmonies, accentuating the awesomeness of this record.    Gray does a fine job of authentically selling the plight of love. My favorite part of the song, aside from the ‘jigsaw’ chorus, is the aggressive second verse (“All I did just to make you happy / Still, you don’t even fuckin’ love me /… If I made you like me, would I even like myself?”).

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“Family Line”

🤩 🎵 “Family Line” has a strong argument for the crowning achievement from Superache.  This is a very personal track about his childhood and family. “Family Line” commences with a swell, chill instrumental intro. It’s followed by a subtle sound in the first verse, featuring guitar accompaniment, and soft but vulnerable vocals by Gray. Gray is naturally more assertive during the chorus, where the sheer radiance of his instrument shines brightest:

“Scattered ‘cross my family line

I’m so good at telling lies

That came from my mother’s side

Told a million to survive

Scattered ‘cross my family line

God, I have my father’s eyes

But my sister’s when I cry

I can run, but I can’t hide

From my family line.”

Aside from the chorus, the bridge is incredibly powerful. Of the record, Gray told Apple Music:

It’s about watching generations of hurt people pass their pain onto their kids, and then their kids pass them onto their kids. In my childhood, I felt like I was told that I was going to end up living this very specific life and that I wasn’t going to have a bright future because of my past. ‘Family Line’ is me saying, ‘Well, it doesn’t really matter. I can be whatever I want to be.’ I was so scared to put it out; that was the reason why I needed to put it out.

With “Family Line” being so accomplished, 🎵 “Summer Child” has a tough act to follow.  No problem! This is another musical selection with a singer/songwriter vibe that works out sensationally.  The lyrics remain thoughtful and poetic and Gray continues to masterfully exhibit vulnerability: “You cover up your arms with your sleeves / Even in hundred-degree heat / Your father was awfully mean…” Once more, the chorus is the centerpiece: “Oh, summer child / You don’t have to act like all you feel is mild / You don’t really love the Sun; it drives you wild / You’re lyin’, summer child.” Some other positive notes include a marvelous harmonic scheme and more incredible vocal production and harmonies.

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“Footnote”

🎵 “Footnote” continues the excellence.  Gray sings softly but once again, potently. He has another great story to tell – the couple that isn’t! “We ate at a restaurant, the host said we’re cute / They think we’re a couple,” he sings in the second verse, later adding, “Oh, and I’d be embarrassed if I weren’t so pleased / That everyone else sees what you never see / We’re perfect together, but I’ll never be the one.” I love the use of footnotes throughout (“Just like the novels, side characters end up alone” or “So, I’ll just take a footnote in your life”).

“But please, don’t ruin this for me / Please, don’t make it harder than it already is / I’m trying to get over this.” Initially, 🤩 🎵 “Memories” develops slowly, musically, picking up steam as it progresses. Interestingly, as it progresses, “Memories” has some 🎙 Queen-like theatricality given its dramatic nature and intriguing composition. Artistically, Gray showcases liberal authenticity. He’s in a vulnerable spot, as the memories flood his mind regarding an ex-. Rather than blame the memories themselves, he tells his ex, who keeps coming back, “I wish that you would stay in my memories … I wanna put you in the past ‘cause I’m traumatized.” Give him credit for delivering epic vocals and an epic chorus.

🎵 “The Exit” serves as a fitting conclusion to Superache. Gray continues to suffer the effects of a broken heart, whether it’s “Starin’ at a girl who’s not me / On your arm, a carbon copy” or “Feels like we had matching wounds / But mine’s still black and bruised.”  His pain is our listening pleasure – oh the schadenfreude!

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Final Thoughts 💭 

All told, Conan Gray ‘brings the heat’ on Superache. To reiterate, his sophomore album doesn’t disappoint with no shortage of standouts and no duds to be found. He continues to expand and improve his artistry and craft, shining bright like a diamond – a handsome diamond at that 😍! 

🤩 Gems 💎: “Movies,” “Disaster,” “Astronomy,” “Jigsaw,” “Yours,” “Family Line” & “Memories”

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🎙 Conan Gray • 💿 Superache • 🏷 Republic • 🗓 7.24.22

[📷: Republic]

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