Noah Kahan, who is well-known for his melancholic and honest lyrics, released his fourth studio album on April 24, 2026. The album is called The Great Divide, and has over one hour of new content, with seventeen songs.
Kahan first became popular after his hit song, Stick Season, released in 2022, but Kahan has been making music since 2019. A large portion of his music is inspired by his childhood, growing up in Strafford, Vermont. In his music, Noah describes his difficult relationship with his father and his struggle with addiction. His most popular song on the album, “Doors,” talks about his childhood trauma, and an unhealthy relationship that occurs because of it. The lyrics, “I keep showing you doors, but you can’t open them up . . . I just live here, babe, but you’re the one who decided to knock,” shows the toxicity of his situation in a beautiful metaphor.
Noah Kahan uses a variety of different instruments, including acoustic and electric guitar in his music. The banjo, especially, can be heard a large amount throughout the entire album. Kahan’s sound is very similar to other artists like Hozier and Bon Iver, but what differentiates Kahan is his brutally honest lyric-writing and his aggressive yet catchy strumming patterns.
My favorite song on the album is “Porch Light.” It describes the energy that one puts into a relationship, only to receive nothing from it. The lyrics are hauntingly relatable, with Kahan singing “I’ll pray for you, be in pain for you, I’ll leave the porch light on/ Heartbroken, each morning when it’s me that turns it off.”
Overall, I think this is the perfect album for folk lovers, and those who appreciate realistic, raw lyricism. Noah Kahan is an incredible storyteller, and I am excited to see what he decides to do next with his music career.
