“Found Heaven” - Conan Gray Album Review

Conan Gray’s third album was released on April 5, 2024 however the whole album transports listeners to the 1980s.

This album had five singles before its release: “Never Ending Song,” “Winner,” “Killing Me,” “Lonely Dancers” and “Alley Rose.” Music videos were released for “Never Ending Song” and “Lonely Dancers,” and the film style clearly personified the time travel that was occurring.

The album genuinely sounds like Micheal Jackson rose from the grave and decided to start making music again. It also sounds like “Stranger Things” season five came out early and this was the soundtrack.

The opening song “Found Heaven” is the perfect opener for the album, really painting how impressive Gray’s lyricism is. This song also immediately gives the vibe of “Five Nights At Freddys,” which is extremely interesting.

Fans were gifted with a large amount of singles before the album was released, however, that means listening to the album straight down is quite unexciting. The first and latter half of the album is all music heard before.

Songs that stand out on this album are “Miss You,” “Bourgeoisieses” and “Eye Of The Night.”

“Miss You” is like listening to Gray read personal poetry to his fans while also having the craziest synth beat and vocal range of all time. This song makes listeners want to put on roller blades and go put coins into the Pac-Mac machine.

“Forever With Me” is the powerful pop ballad that fans were begging Gray for. This song is extremely impressive and breathtaking. This song truly has the best bridge on the album and showcases the wide vocal range Gray has.

Certain songs on this album genuinely personify what it must’ve been like to go to the arcade and put quarters in to play “Missile Command” or “Centipede.” “Boys & Girls” and “Lonely Dancers” personify this historical activity.

“Bourgeoisieses” is the craziest song that has been released in a while. Something about this song transports listeners right back to when Jimmy Carter was president and the Soviet Union began to collapse.

Somehow, Gray also creates a spooky Halloween vibe through the songs “Killing Me” and “Never Ending Song.” These songs also remind listeners of “Ghostbusters” and how terrible the recent release of “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire” was. These songs bring an intense nostalgic feeling to Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis.

Gray also slips in personal and emotional songs, such as the album closer “Winner.” Listening to these lyrics feels like reading Gray’s personal diary and getting a glimpse of the life he lived in Texas.

“Eye Of The Night” is the most impressive song on the album, truly personifying Micheal Jackson. If reincarnation is real, then Gray is Jackson. Welcome back Micheal Jackson in 2024.

After the release of the personal and emotional album “Superache” in 2022, the “Found Heaven” album can be shelved next to it as a masterpiece. Fans should be excited to see what Gray does on tour for this crazy 1980 time travel album.

Rating: 7/10

Reviewer’s Favorite Songs: “Eye Of The Night,” “Winner” and “Miss You”

Reviewer’s Least Favorite Songs: “Killing Me” and “Bourgeoisieses”

Grace Bowman is a third-year majoring in biology. To contact her, email gab5585@psu.edu.