After Noah Kahan released his single “The Great Divide” on April 24, expectations and anticipation for the rest of his album were sky-high. A huge Kahan fan myself, I desperately hoped that the record would live up to the hype.
“The Great Divide is produced by Kahan and collaborators Aaron Dessner and Gabe Simon. Kahan gives listeners that quintessential “Noah Kahan magic” – beautiful acoustics, layered emotion, and songs that you can’t help but love – while still trying out new styles.
“The Great Divide” features classic Kahan: acoustic guitar combined with melodic vocals. This style is tried and true for Kahan and has led him to countless hits, so it is nice to see more of it in this album. In songs like “Paid Time Off,” Kahan uses lyrics, tempo and guitar in perfect rhythm, just as he has his entire career.
However, in various songs, Kahan also explores new sounds. Tracks such as “Porch Light” and “Headed North” deliver instrumental solos unlike anything Kahan previously released. The sound and tempo of “Deny Deny Deny” are almost reminiscent of a 2010s boy band, also out of character for Kahan. “The Great Divide” pulls off these moments of musical exploration reasonably well, considering that they are so new to Kahan’s catalog.
“The Great Divide” perfectly exemplifies something that Kahan does especially well: his ability to capture the deep emotion behind seemingly ordinary moments. This is achieved amazingly in “Paid Time Off,” when Kahan, speaking to an ex, describes his thoughts on an ordinary sign: “I thought it was strange how the letters were placed … and if you were here, you’d make a joke of it.” Listeners see how an everyday moment triggered deep emotions and memories, and that an important relationship of Kahan’s has changed. Kahan then brings listeners into ordinary moments such as “getting high at the outlet mall” or smoking “a pack of cigarettes” and playing “a round of golf.” Through his lyricism, Kahan conveys the significance of the little moments in life—even if we don’t realize their importance in the moment.
Kahan is well known for his ability to capture the experience of growth and the change that comes with it. In “We Go Way Back,” Kahan sings, “Used to hate the silence, used to make me think about the old days,” describing that life has changed but that he has moved on. Later, when Kahan sings “I love you and I can’t fake that for a moment. We go way back,” we are invited into the way Kahan embraces his love for someone, even if their relationship has changed over time.
In “All Them Horses,” Kahan explores individual change, singing, “I crossed the county line I cannot go back, I’m always on my own.” He has gone from a self-perceived simple man from Vermont to a globally famous artist, a process which has left him feeling solitary and as if he isn’t even at home in the place where he grew up.
Some of Kahan’s fabulous songs have found mainstream success, such as “Stick Season” and “Northern Attitude.” His new lead single, “The Great Divide,” is at the level of these universally loved songs. It has it all: vulnerability, amazing acoustics, and a smooth buildup to passionate and emotional lyrics. If you remember nothing else from this review, remember that Kahan managed to make yet another unequivocally fabulous song.
The album closes with “Dan,” which is a perfect way to finish up the album. The song emphasizes a sense of connection to the past that weaved throughout the album. His lyrics again invoke a sense of nostalgia and prompt us to think about our own journeys and reflect on the ways we ourselves have changed.
When it comes to conveying emotions and stories, Kahan hasn’t lost his touch and can still bring us into the ups and downs of his life with his beautiful lyrics and guitar. “The Great Divide” also hints at the possibility of Kahan becoming a more versatile musician. Indeed, if Kahan decides to commit himself to mastering the new sounds featured in his album, he will achieve some truly fantastic, innovative hits.
