Noah Kahan managed to deliver another masterpiece with his latest project, “The Great Divide.” Grab your banjo and tissues and gather ‘round the campfire, because this folk album is bound to have you dancing and crying.
The album was released on April 24, and the deluxe edition “The Great Divide: The Last Of The Bugs” released as a surprise on April 25. In the approximate 90 minutes of runtime, Kahan reconciles his newfound fame with the nostalgia, grief and isolation that accompany it.
The opening track “End of August” lays the groundwork for the nostalgic factor this album excels at. Its use of piano feels like opening an album of childhood photos — we’re aware of the past while also being aware of how things will play out in the future.
Lyrics like “Everything you see out here will die / oh, it’s a matter of time” from “End of August” depict the dread of expecting things to go wrong when they have been going well, covering childhood bliss, fame and fleeting relationships.
Kahan goes back to his Vermont roots and points out that the things we grow up with never fully leave us. Kahan challenges the guilt you feel for “abandoning” your hometown, and how to make peace with it all.
“Dashboard” in particular tackles the difference between pursuing ambition and running away in a singable chorus, blending folk and rock.
Kahan further ties comfort with connection on the album’s closing track “Dan,” which is about making peace with a fear of death. “Where do we go, when we die? I wouldn’t mind right here / cause I’m with my best friend Dan now.”
For people who grew up more rural, this album is especially hard-hitting. Natural sounds like a chorus of cicadas buzzing echo memories of a childhood spent outdoors.
Kahan’s authenticity shines throughout all the songs. He doesn’t let the success of his last album push him to change his style to fit what’s trending. In fact, the album reverts to some of his older sound, and there isn’t an abundance of autotune or overproduction like many artists you’d hear on the radio.
This album isn’t melancholic for melancholy’s sake. Kahan wants us to be at home in our memories and forces us to make peace with them. There’s always a subtle hopefulness to be found beneath the agony in all of the tracks.
As a complement to “Stick Season,” Kahan has created a true rival composed of vulnerable lyricism and his signature folky-alternative sound. “The Great Divide” is an album bound to make you feel a little less alone.
If you can’t listen to the entire album, at least tune in for “Haircut,” “Dashboard,” “The Great Divide” and “All Them Horses.”
The Great Divide album cover, released April 24, 2026. Picture courtesy of The Diamondback.