Noah Kahan dropped his fourth studio album titled The Great Divide on April 24, 2026. He released The Great Divide: The Last of the Bugs less than 24 hours later, an extended edition with four new tracks. The album boasts 21 songs with a 1:36 runtime. So, let’s dive in.
This album was highly anticipated by fans after Kahan teased song snippets and content on social media. It follows his most recent release, Live from Fenway Park in 2024, which was mostly songs from the various prior versions of Stick Season.
As a lover of literary genius within songs, I went through and chose the lyric(s) that spoke to me the most from each song, as well as the snippet of musicality that I enjoyed the most. Remember, enjoyment is subjective! When you listen to Noah Kahan, I hope other things speak to your heart!
- ‘End of August’
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Bug’s Fave: “I know the traffic light/ You can speed right by/ ‘Cause the camera’s down” or “Everything you see out here will die.”
Best Music: 2:38
Hello, reference to “Everything Everywhere”! “Drive slowly, I know every route in this county/ Maybe that ain’t such a bad thing/ I’ll tell you where not to speed.”
Remember to be conscious of time and your life. Things are moving, and they are coming for you. But that doesn’t have to be a bad thing.
- ‘Doors’
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Bug’s Fave: “Cause it gets harder to see me the closer you try to look” or “Have you ever stared directly at the sun/ Have you ever shared some closeness/ So exposed, to have it spit back by someone.”
Best Music: 2:51 (SOLO) with an honorable mention to the following line… #guttural.
The self-loathing that this man possesses is both heartbreaking and catchy. Evil little banjo man.
- ‘American Cars’
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Bug’s Fave: “4CB3A” and “I’ve got to stay for Mom” or “All I want/ Is a dialogue.”
Best Music: 2:39 — I love this pre-chorus so much.
I thought this said “All I want is to die alone,” and I was perfectly alright with that. This whole song is so reminiscent of Stick Season and “She Calls Me Back,” and I love it.
Cameron Smith / Her Campus - ‘Downfall’
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Bug’s Fave: “To hopin’ you might change your mind, and to hating you for going” or “Oh tell me when you miss the climb from a hole that has no bottom.”
Best Music: 1:00
Talk about a punch to the gut, especially for a big sister who left her little brother at home to go to college.
- ‘Paid Time Off’
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Bug’s Fave: “And your love is like an open flame/ I’m a running car, you’re a closed garage” or “Someone once said there’s a world out there/ But we don’t care enough to drive that far.”
Best Music: 1:20 — best folksy tune with heart-wrenching melancholy behind the words.
It’s small-town life incarnate, and realizing that life isn’t super sustainable. It’s also about the passion and fire for someone who just isn’t compatible with the situation.
- ‘The Great Divide’
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Bug’s Fave: “I hope you’re with someone who isn’t scared to ask” or “I hope you’re only scared of ordinary shit.”
Best Music: 1:57
Honestly, for those we drifted apart from but only hold goodwill towards, this is the perfect sentiment. A peaceful, real life.
- ‘Haircut’
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Bug’s Fave: “You grew out your hair long/ Now you think you’re Jesus Christ” or “But at least I got a soul still.”
Best Music: 3:42 — Okay vocals!
This song is a perfect breather from the angst, while still having a large amount of angst behind the folksy tune. It’s a little bit of optimism; a nice break in the clouds.
- ‘Willing and Able’
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Bug’s Fave: “If you’re willing, I’m able.”
Best Music: 1:24
Family distance is an incredibly painful thing to go through, and I think his insight in this song is so beautiful.
- ‘Dashboard’
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Bug’s Fave: “Look at you go, crossin’ state lines with your shadow.”
Best Music: 1:35
As someone who moved away from her entire life to run away to Boston for college, I am wounded. This song has been on repeat.
- ’23’
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Bug’s Fave: “No one gets to talk shit but the ones you’ve shit on.”
Best Music: 1:38
Dealing with a loved one going through addiction, balancing your pain with theirs, and on top of that, loving them through anything.
- ‘Porch Light’
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Bug’s Fave: “And you’ll slip into some eloquently ramblin’ mixed messaging.”
Best Music: 1:24
Noah’s ability to channel the perspective of anyone he thinks he hurt is intense. This song makes me miss my mom.
- ‘Deny Deny Deny’
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Bug’s Fave: “I wanna know the dark that I share a brain with.”
Best Music: 0:39
It just doesn’t end.
- ‘Headed North’
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Bug’s Fave: “It was shit before, but at least I had you.”
Best Music: 2:11
Cherish the memories you share with your hometown friends and your siblings. Enjoy the time you have together.
- ‘We Go Way Back’
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Bug’s Fave: “Oh, I love you, and I can’t fake that for a moment.”
Best Music: 2:12
This song goes hand in hand with “Forever” and “Strawberry Wine.” His love for Brenna (his fiancée!) is so powerful. It’s really a testament to the idea that love will always be there.
- ‘Spoiled’
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Bug’s Fave: “’Cause where I’m from and what I’m worth have gotten too damn intertwined.”
Best Music: 1:00
In this song, he’s fighting with his fame and goes on a journey of self-discovery. Who are we, but where are we from?
- ‘All Them Horses’
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Bug’s Fave: “Couldn’t make it back even if I tried” or “I wanna beat it, wanna beat it bad/ Oh, everyone looks happy in a photograph.”
Best Music: 2:04
An exploration of the inevitability of change, combined with a desire for mental health. A great partner to “Dashboard.”
- ‘Dan’
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Bug’s Fave: “Before the moment tries to disappear.”
Best Music: 2:30
It was so kind of him to end the album with an ode to friendship and enjoying the small things. Something we should all remember.
If you haven’t listened to this album yet, listen. Is it sad? Yes, but it is also full of light. It’s a complex exploration of the human condition, set to banjo tunes.
If you want to be able to understand it even more deeply, watch Kahan’s Netflix documentary: Noah Kahan: Out of Body.
I’m not getting paid to promote this, I swear.
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