By Dominique Tassell
Conan Gray‘s second album Superache dropped recently, cementing him as the true king of heartbreak in his generation.
Sometimes a sophomore album can feel too experimental or far too much the same but Superache feels like a clear growth on what Conan was doing in Kid Krow. He is possibly one of very few artists who had a clear vision from their debut and has stuck to it.
Conan’s songwriting, his vulnerability and relatability, has always been his strength, and this album clearly builds on that. He manages to write very specific yet very relatable lyrics that hit home with listeners.
His strong suit is heartbreak, and Superache hones in on this. Conan writes about wanting an epic love like in the movies, and basically all of his songs would fit in perfectly on a soundtrack.
A fair few songs off the album were released as singles over the last year or so, and have been certified hits amongst his fans.
The track list starts off with Movies, which is a perfect example of Conan knowing how to make a song you want to scream in your car.
People Watching comes next. It was released as a single last year and has remained in my playlist since.
It’s a good example of Conan’s knack for building a song up and creating a strong hook.
The third track, Disaster, is good but not Conan’s best. Out of the entire album, this feels like the weakest point.
Most of Conan’s songs feel so emotional and this feels a little monotone in comparison. It lacks payoff at the end of the song, and feels a bit listless.
Track four, Best Friend, had me a little worried at first after listening to Disaster but it picks up pretty quickly.
This is definitely a lyric driven song, but it conveys the peacefulness of a good friendship well.
The next song, Astronomy, is the lead of the album and that’s definitely for good reason.
Maybe I’m just a sucker for star imagery but I loved this one, it’s the kind of song you want to play while lying on your bed in the darkness. It perfectly captures that movie kind of love Conan loves so much.
The sixth track, Yours, has an excellent chorus and really shows how Conan can encapsulate heartbreak.
The bridge feels a little Olivia Rodrigo-esque, which is fair given they’re friends. The song does cut off kind of abruptly but arguably that suits the song though I don’t normally like this.
Next up is Jigsaw, which starts off a bit slow, but really comes through with the chorus. It makes sense that I’ve heard this song on Tik Tok, with a chorus like that.
Track eight is Family Line, an incredibly raw song that is clearly resonating online. It has a fantastic bridge, and shows Conan can write about all kinds of heartbreak and misery.
Summer Child is up next, and encapsulates nostalgic childhood summers but doesn’t leave too much of a lasting impression.
The tenth track, Footnote, references Pride and Prejudice, so immediately became a favourite. It definitely feels like it belongs in a movie, as most of Conan’s songs do.
Memories is the second-last song on the album, and is another song that was released ahead of time. It’s been in multiple playlists of mine and is one of my favourite songs Conan has released.
It’s the song I scream most in the car, which really says all that needs to be said.
The final song is The Exit, and while Conan’s strong suit is lyrics this song shows he also knows how to catch you with a good beat. This song is great, and is a strong finish to a fantastic album that will be on play for years to come.
