Noah Kahan

Week 19: Noah Kahan- The Great Divide

~ honestopinions19 ~ Leave a comment

I was quite a fan of “Stick Season”, released four years ago, so I was naturally looking to “The Great Divide”, but unfortunately, it is a laborious listen that depends on mood and consistency, which does not work in the album’s favour. The opener is ‘End of August’, followed by ‘Doors’, which sets a reflective tone for the rest of the record. ‘American Cars’ and ‘Downfall’ keep the tone, but do not deviate much from the album’s tempo. There are a few times that the sound is like The War on Drugs, but a tamer version of the psychedelic shoegaze band.

Of course, that does not mean the record lacks highlights. Indeed, there are a few, starting with the title track, which has a stronger emotional build, and ‘Dashboard’ has some much-needed energy. Noah, maybe, should have done more of those songs because they have a bigger, more dynamic sound.

The middle section is where the problems with the album are most evident. ‘23’, ‘Porch Light’ and ‘Deny Deny Deny’ all sound the same regarding emotion, instruments, and tempo. Although the lyricism is deeply personal, the album drags due to a lack of variety.

As the record closes out with ‘We Go Way Back’, ‘Spolied’, ‘All Them Horses’, and ‘Dan’, the running theme is still present, but there is not much change since the first listen. The album may be held together by emotional consistency, but it makes your attention waver because it all sounds the same.

The record is deeply personal with some strong tracks, but the steady pace and overall listening time makes it drag, and you feel fatigued as you reach the halfway point. Rather than an exciting journey, it just feels laborious. Very disappointed. One for the live audience to listen to rather than get them lively.

Song recommendations: ‘The Great Divide’, ‘Dashboard’

6/10

Week 7: Noah Kahan- Stick Season

~ honestopinions19 ~ Leave a comment

I was astonished to discover that “Stick Season” was released in 2022, with the latest single ‘Homesick’ released last month. The album is named after autumn before the snow arrives in New England. 

In 2020, Noah teased the title track on TikTok, which inspired many covers, several reviews, and comments by the likes of Maisie Peters, who I reviewed last year.

I don’t know much about Noah, but his first two records were quite poppy, whereas his third effort is all-out folk. This album is almost certainly folk. It sounded like a combination of Mumford and Sons, Hozier, Lumineers, and Vance Joy. Noah said in an interview that this is the kind of music that he prefers to do. God knows why, then, the first two records were pop. It’s probably pressure from the label for marketing purposes.

Along with Gabe Simon, Noah himself is on production. That doesn’t particularly stand out for me because folk is easy to listen to. It’s the songwriting where this album is at. You would think, as this record was done during the midst of the lockdowns, that it would be centred around that, but no. Noah chose a more reflective album where he wants to leave home, longs for home, and deals with the unfinished business of returning.

He addresses several subjects, including mental health, such as ‘Growing Sideways’ and ‘Stick Season’ of growing tired of home. The latter sees Noah talk bluntly about hating home. The record closer, “The View Between Villages’ is about when he drove back home. He feels excitement returning, but he also knows he will start to loathe the idea. It is apt that it ends with him on a journey because the album is life’s journey. In the beginning, he is angry; during the midway point, he is feeling sad, and by the end, he has accepted life. I found it hard to pick song recommendations because I like the bulk of the album. My choice varies the more I listen to it.

Song recommendations: ‘Growing Sideways’, ‘Northern Attitude’, ‘The View Between Villages’

8/10