Noah Kahan, the star of New England, has once more released an album that is sobering and yet restorative. Kahan is known for his discography of sad, earthy indie rock, and his new album, “The Great Divide,” is another beautiful trip to an arborous world both familiar and distant.
The album starts out with “End of August,” a subtle gut punch with dreamy vocals and the same tinge of regretful nostalgia. “American Cars,” the third song on the album, mirrors previous songs, illustrating the distant relationship between someone who got out of a dead-end town and someone who stayed.
Just like the choruses to many of Kahan’s songs, “American Cars” has this memorable chorus that works so well. In the same way, “Downfall” also talks about those small town relationships. This one, though not as sentimental, is more honest in the happiness for someone leaving, but also wanting them to fail and stay.
“The Great Divide” was released as a single before the rest of the album, so it has had time to make its way out into the world — it gladly has gotten the love it deserves. Just like many of Kahan’s songs, it paints the story of someone who has seen too much and only wishes the best for the subject of the song.
It begins with his usual storytelling and honest lyrics: “I hope you settle down, I hope you marry rich.” Kahan goes on to express his hopes for the subject to not live in fear of “[their] soul and what He [God] might do with it.” That line shifts the entire story and shows the depth of Kahan’s hopes for whom he sings to.
When it comes to Noah Kahan, there is something otherworldly in the way he writes. I’m not sure if it’s some Appalachian magic, but he creates this world so full of grief, nostalgia and resentment. He tells these stories of people from a small town, and though your “small town” may not look like his, you can still connect to it in your own way.
Kahan deals with those nasty and unfavorable feelings in such a moving way. It is as if he takes your heart, brings it to his own and says, “we two are the same.”
“Haircut” is the seventh song on the album, and it is so infectious. The distance the character speaks of and their resentment toward someone they grew up with “getting their act together” is so easy to resonate with. I couldn’t help but imagine being at a festival singing along with an iced tea in my hand.
One of the best lines in the song is, “You grew your hair out long, now you think you’re Jesus Christ. There ain’t nobody mistakin’ your guilt for some great sacrifice.” It’s so easy to relate to the character’s ire.
“Headed North” is a gentle reprise from the somber tone of the album. The song was recorded with just an acoustic guitar outside with all the sounds of summer bugs roaming around in the background. This song above all reminded me of bluegrass mixed with a little cheekiness, and I do love to hear Cybertruck hate in a song.
The album continues on with the same level of striking storytelling. Noah Kahan’s guitar-lined ballads are once in a generation. If you haven’t listened to “The Great Divide” album, I implore you to get in your car or go outside, put your earphones in and listen to the album in full.
Listening to this album feels like shouting out on the edge of the world, speeding on an empty highway with the windows down or watching the climax of the perfect coming-of-age film. For fans and those new to Noah Kahan, “The Great Divide” is an album worth its weight in gold.
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