★★★★★
On Friday, Noah Kahan both excited and broke fans with his new release: ‘The Great Divide’. Though he didn’t stop there, he immediately followed the release with a surprise deluxe album featuring four extra songs and titled it ‘The Great Divide: The Last of the Bugs’, hinting at the lyric from his 2022 song "The View Between Villages".
As expected by fans, Kahan’s latest album release is nothing short of devastating. ‘The Great Divide’ is his fourth studio album and was produced by Kahan himself alongside renowned Aaron Dessner and Gabe Simon. From hometown nostalgia to decade-long regrets, the album is a deep dive into Kahan's experiences of growing up and out of his hometown and into the music industry.
The title track and first single of the album, ‘The Great Divide’, was released at the end of January. The single has skyrocketed to the front of the charts since, with its focus on broken friendships being relatable for many fans. The song discusses his regret whilst reminiscing about past arguments, with him stating, “I hope you settle down, I hope you marry rich”. Following ‘The Great Divide’, he later released his second single for the album titled ‘Porch Light’. Whilst notably more melancholic than the previous single, the song has received endless support from fans. Hinting at themes of addiction, much like his previous song ‘Orange Juice’, Kahan includes the line “And I’ll pray for you, be in pain for you / I’ll leave the porch light on”. Both singles perfectly encapsulate the album’s tone and focus on unresolved feelings.
The album includes an impressive 17 tracks, with the deluxe stretching to 21. Starting off with ‘End of August’, the album’s tone was immediately set as not dissimilar to his previous album ‘Stick Season’. With his experience with alcoholism and the complex feelings when moving far from your hometown and family. Similar to his song ‘Forever’, ‘End of August’ builds up to the chorus, moving flawlessly from the peaceful beginning to the powerful end. Elsewhere, the second track, ‘Doors’, has quickly become a fan favourite, with Kahan's vulnerable discussion of his trust issues. The lyric “have you ever shared some closeness, so exposed / To have it spit back by someone” is a truthful insight into the everlasting effects of trust being broken.
Whilst every song on the album has its own significance, a couple of the most popular among fans have been ‘All Them Horses’, his 18th track, which encapsulates the struggle to connect in long-distance relationships. Stating “everyone looks happy in a photograph”, the song creates a saddening representation for anyone who has moved away from family and friends. Whereas his 21st and final track, ‘Dan’, displays the comfort of lifelong friendships despite the distance. Through “You’ve been the best five minutes of a shitty old year”, the song is a love letter dedicated to lasting and steady friendships. He also makes a reference to ‘Carlo’s Song’ from his 2019 ‘Busyhead’ album, honouring his friend who passed away.
As well as his album, Kahan released a Netflix documentary in mid-April titled Noah Kahan: Out of Body. It offered a candid insight into his life before his album was released, showing his struggles with depression and body dysmorphia in his personal life. The documentary came shortly after he announced his UK, Europe, Australia and New Zealand tour for late 2026. The tour, as well as his North America tour this summer, will be his opportunity to share ‘The Great Divide’ with his ever-growing fan base.
Following his first three albums, ‘Busyhead’, ‘I Was / I Am’ and ‘Stick Season’, ‘The Great Divide’ is a perfect blend of all three whilst also exploring a whole new reflective perspective.
Ella Clarke
Image: ‘The Great Divide’ Official Album Cover