It’s been four years since Noah Kahan released his career-changing album, Stick Season. This January, he announced his fourth studio album, The Great Divide, and released its title track off the same name. The album was released on April 24th and originally had 17 tracks, but less than 24 hours later Kahan dropped The Great Divide: The Last Of The Bugs, which included  4 surprise songs! This was Kahan’s first album to hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200. All 21 songs from “The Great Divide” were on the Billboard Hot 100, making him the one of the only artists  to simultaneously chart 21 Hot 100 songs. 

The album followed the release of his Netflix documentary, Noah Kahan: Out of Body which follows the aftermath of Kahan’s rise to fame after the release of Stick Season. In the film, he opens up about mental health issues and the pressure to release new music. 

The album is in his usual folk-pop style, and is filled with emotional depth and storytelling. Fan favorites on the album include “Doors” which claimed #1 on the US Spotify Streaming Chart and “End of August” which took 2nd place. “Doors” has an uptempo drum pattern that gives a sense of momentum to the song, and its lyrics focus on the insecurities and trust issues Kahan has in his relationships. “End of August” starts off much slower with ambient sounds like buzzing and nature, but builds up as the song goes on. 

My personal favorites on the album are “Deny Deny Deny” and “American Cars.” “Deny Deny Deny” has an upbeat sound paired with heavy lyrics about the emotional gap between two people. “American Cars” has more of an indie-rock sound and explores a complicated family dynamic. 

Overall, The Great Divide was a great follow-up to Noah Kahan’s breakout success. Kahan has a unique way of connecting with listeners through his music, using an expert blend of storytelling and deeply personal lyrics. With this album, Kahan has not only met the expectations surrounding his return, but surpassed them. •