Top 3 Songs from ‘The Great Divide’ That You Don’t Want To Miss

‘The Great Divide’, Noah Kahan’s fourth studio album cover. Kahan released his first album, ‘Busyhead’ in 2019, and since then has gained great popularity within the folk music fan base. 

Chloe Greer, Photo Essay Desk Lead

Singer Noah Kahan is known for his emotionally complex songwriting and beautiful vocals. When his last studio album, “Stick Season,” gained much popularity in 2023, Kahan’s career skyrocketed, gaining him many devoted fans. Kahan announced his new album “The Great Divide” to be released April 24, a day all fans highly anticipated. After Kahan’s booming success with his title track single, “The Great Divide,” he had created high standards for fans, standards that were exceeded upon release date. The deluxe version, “The Great Divide: The Last of the Bugs,” holds 21 songs. While all are equally emotional and unique, three stood out to me upon my first listen. 

My third favorite song on the album has to be the first song on the album, “End of August.” In my opinion, it feels as if this song was the perfect choice for the album opener. This song starts off as a piano instrumental with lyrics coming in about a minute into the song. The piano helps create a calm, anticipatory base for the lyrical complexity that comes later in the album. The lyrics in the song rely heavily on themes of reflectivity and nostalgia, creating a specific tone to start the album. Without “End of August,” it is likely we as listeners would not have as good an understanding of the message that this song is trying to convey.

My second favorite song on “The Great Divide” would have to be the last track on the album, “Dan.” The song highlights Kahan’s relationship with his best friend, Dan. This song is the perfect closing for the album, as it really locks in the constant theme of nostalgia portrayed throughout the album. It highlights the current state of Kahan’s life, as it takes time to describe his current endeavours and how he is coping with the past. This song is the perfect bookend when paired with “End of August.” In my opinion, the two songs really tell a story, highlighting the beginning and end of the album. 

Lastly, my all-time favorite on the album would have to be “Orbiter.” This song appears as track #20 on the deluxe album “The Great Divide: The Last of The Bugs.” This song specifically stood out to me because of its complex lyrics and deeper themes that I feel represent change and contemplation. The song tells the story of Kahan’s experience with rising fame and the controversy he may face through it. This song represents having something important to hold onto when times are changing. A song with an interpretational meaning such as this creates a perfect song for anyone who is willing to really listen to the lyrics. It provides a chance for listeners to relate their own circumstances to a piece of music, and albums need to have that kind of escape built into them.

“The Great Divide” is an album that exemplifies the perfect afternoon, driving through your hometown. It feels like a nostalgic glance at the past, even though you’re trying to move forward. This is an album that I feel is perfect for someone who is going through changes, but is working on looking forward. 

Kahan did an excellent job with this album and really took his time to perfect each aspect, whether it be lyrics, meaning, or musical elements. This album is the perfect one to turn on during a long road trip, or if you need some in-depth thinking music.