Noah Kahan’s new album, “The Great Divide,” delivers a stunning variety of emotions and expertly captures the feeling of spring. On first listen, many Kahan fans were driven to tears by the raw passion of his performance.
“The Great Divide” dropped on April 26 and consists of 17 songs and one single of the same name. With a run time of 77 minutes, it tells the story of him growing up and returning to his hometown in Vermont. Each song captures a different aspect of emotion associated with his homecoming. The album creates an environment of nostalgic summer evenings and past regrets. Although the songs are specific to Kahan’s experience, many listeners find them relatable and an outlet for reminiscing.
The album was meant to reflect Kahan’s inner struggles and continued connection to his hometown. Kahan’s three previous albums, “Busyhead” (2019), “I Was/I Am” (2021) and “Stick Season” (2022), established what has now become his signature guitar sound. With “Stick Season,” his most popular album, Kahan managed to bring the genre of folk to the forefront of people’s minds and radios. Now, Kahan is attempting to create music that explores the struggles in his life after fame.
The album’s opening track, “End of August,” begins with a sudden piano riff, almost sounding like a stumble. The instant feeling of playful calm paired with soft vocals creates a warm summer feeling. The lyrics reflect on childhood and the innocence that came with the last month of summer. As the music builds, Kahan sings about life’s impermanence. This opening perfectly primes listeners for the heartfelt meditations that define the rest of the album.
Track 3, “American Cars,” begins with a more upbeat and almost country-sounding guitar. He says, “We’re drownin’ here, I’ve gotta stay for Mom/Make the house a home, you know how to talk/Well, you did back then, we would talk so much/And it’s fine we don’t, but can you come home?” Its lively chorus and heartfelt lyrics are a staple of Kahan’s. The song sweetly tells of the solace and comfort that can be found in another person.
“Paid Time Off,” the album’s sixth track, begins slowly and eventually picks up speed and energy at the chorus. Kahan returns to a theme he has explored in previous albums, the simultaneously comforting and claustrophobic effect of staying in your hometown. This push and pull relationship is represented through various metaphors throughout the song. Kahan says, “And your love is like an open flame/I’m a runnin’ car, and you’re a closed garage.” This song, although written about Kahan’s life, is a relatable one for many people growing up in a small town.
The album’s title track includes Kahan’s signature heartwrenching chorus and guitar in the background. The song laments his wishes for the people he loves, and his regret over the disconnect that grew between them after his rise to fame. This feeling of distance is what gives the song, and the album, its name.
The album’s last song, “Dan,” is named for Kahan’s best friend and details the healing influence that spending time with a friend can have. It is a charming and optimistic conclusion for the album, and it reminds the listener that no matter how difficult life gets, a good friend can get you through it.
Overall, the album contains many throughlines and little details that keep it cohesive. The extended version of the album, which includes four new songs, is titled “The Great Divide: The Last of the Bugs”. This idea of bugs living in spring and summer only to die in the fall is present in several songs and represents the impermanence and insignificance of people. This was also a recurring element in Kahan’s last album, “Stick Season,” and has come into focus for “The Great Divide.” Kahan also uses the theme of county lines to represent leaving home and growing older. As this is a core idea to the album, it also appears in many songs.
“The Great Divide” was clearly a deep and pensive outlet for Kahan, and the songs delve into new depths, connecting him to his listeners. This album is the perfect soundtrack for the joyous and nostalgic transition from spring into summer and the bittersweet feeling of changing with the seasons.
