The release of Noah Kahan’s new album, “The Great Divide,” was highly anticipated everywhere, but especially at KO. It dropped on Friday, April 24, 2026, after its title track was released in January.
Ever since I found out he was dropping new music, I have been ecstatic. I love all of his original music, and I was eager to hear what he has been cooking up. Needless to say, the album did not disappoint.
After the leading single was released in January, I knew this album was going to be good. Titled “The Great Divide,” the five-minute, 17-second song was definitely enough to feed us fans until April. The song gives off the usual Noah Kahan vibe, while being more upbeat than his typical songs. When I first saw that it was over five minutes, I was a little scared to see how it would play out. Now, I don’t even realize how much time has passed since the start of the song. The lyrics are beautiful and catchy, and it is definitely a hit single.
Another favorite of mine is the song “Dan.” The unsuspecting title shocked me at first, but I am so glad I took the chance on it. It is just over five minutes and the last song on the album. “Dan” starts with a serene guitar that calms me, and the rest of the song follows that vibe. The name Dan may seem random among the song titles, but it really comes from the chorus, where Noah sings about his best friend Dan.
An element on the album that I picked up on instantly was the song intros. All of them are beautiful and a calming start to each song. Whenever I hear each one, I feel like I am being transported to another planet. These songs have a similar vibe on the album, but a completely different vibe from his older music. I feel like it is very common for artists to jump right into a song and leave no intro. The music industry is getting more centered around social media apps like TikTok and Instagram, so I am very glad Noah is staying on his own path.
My only critique about the album is that some of the less popular songs seem to blend in with one another. While this argument can be made about most music artists, I believe that Kahan can be included in the category. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, since Noah’s writing style is so distinct; however, I have been so busy listening to my favorite songs that I have not really paid attention to some of the other filler songs. Overall, the new Noah Kahan album, “The Great Divide,” is a smashing success. It has all the themes of Noah’s writing abilities, from sad to peaceful to upbeat (at least for a Noah Kahan song). The songs are all decently long and enjoyable throughout the whole album. It’s going to be perfect for my final exam studying and any other activity I choose, and I cannot wait for the official Noah Kahan season to arrive in the fall.
