By Rory McNelley, Head Copy Editor

Noah Kahan’s long awaited fourth studio album, “The Great Divide,” was released last Friday after its initial announcement in late January. 

Fans have been reeling for new music since Kahan finished his “Stick Season” tour with the release of  “Live from Fenway Park,” a high-quality recording of his concert featuring songs from the album, as well as some of his older work. 

Since September 2024, Kahan has teased songs on his Instagram and alluded to a new album. The Great Divide is described by fans as a no skip album; I would have to agree. 

The 17-track album is exactly what I have been waiting for: Noah’s brilliant songwriting about emotions and life. The singles released before the album, “The Great Divide” and “Porchlight,” were only a small taste of what this album had in store. 

Songs like “Willing and Able” and “Doors” speak about Kahan’s relationships in a relatable, scream in your car type of way. Lyrics like “I wish you could know me, and I wish I could know you much more sometimes” along with “Have you ever shared some closeness so exposed, to have it spit back by someone” show Kahan’s ability to articulate his feelings in a way that is relatable to his listeners. 

My personal favorite from the album, “End of August,” which features the lyrics, “The feeling of being alive for the first time in a long time.” Kahan always does a great job of writing songs in narrative style, telling a story for the listener, and lines like this tie the listener into the emotions he feels in the story. 

One of the long-awaited songs, “Staying Still,” did not appear on “The Great Divide,” angering fans who assumed the Instagram teasers indicated it would be included. Surprisingly, on Saturday, the day after the album release, Kahan announced “The Great Divide: The Last of the Bugs,” a deluxe version of the album featuring an additional four songs, including “Staying Still.”

“Four extra songs, out now on all streaming platforms, and yes you get Staying Still,” Kahan stated in an Instagram post. After waiting two years for new music, fans were pleased to have 21 new songs. 

“Staying Still” has become one of my favorites and a pleasant surprise after Friday’s disappointment. Lyrics like, “I can’t keep starting over” and “Honey, tell me, are you good at staying still?” explain Kahan’s hopes for a stable relationship. 

The diversity of topics on the album is one of its major strengths. Kahan talks about relationships, friendships, parents, childhood, hometown nostalgia and moving away from home. There truly is something for everyone on the record. 

Another major strength is Kahan’s unbelievable vocals. Since growing to fame on TikTok for his song “Stick Season” around 2021, fans have discovered the range of emotions and notes Kahan can accomplish. Not only do his songs perfectly articulate complicated feelings but they are sung in a way that never seems to be boring. Kahan moves through highs and lows and unique chorus-verse-bridge patterns that ensure his music is never boring. 

Overall, this album was unbelievable and will be on repeat for me until further notice. Since attending Kahan’s tour in 2024 and listening to unreleased “The Great Divide” live I have been patiently awaiting its appearance on Spotify.