Billboard ranks all 17 tracks from Noah Kahan's new album The Great Divide

Q: Does Kahan's 77-minute album succeed as a masterpiece or buckle under its own weight?

It largely succeeds as an ambitious, high-level album, even if its length keeps it just short of an unqualified masterpiece. The strongest evidence is the critical response and the album’s standout material. Reviewers have praised *The Great Divide* for expanding Noah Kahan’s sound with Aaron Dessner and Gabe Simon, giving it more scale, depth and texture than *Stick Season*. Songs such as “The Great Divide,” “Porch Light,” “All Them Horses,” “Haircut,” “23” and “Dan” have been singled out for sharp writing, emotional complexity and a broader range of perspectives, including his mother, wife and old friends. That has helped frame the record as a real artistic evolution rather than a repeat of his breakthrough. At the same time, the main criticism is consistent: 77 minutes and 17 tracks is a lot for an album built around closely related themes of fame, guilt, home, resentment and dislocation. Several reviews say the middle stretch sags, that some songs blur together sonically, and that Kahan revisits familiar images and ideas too often. In that sense, the album does show signs of strain under its own scale. Still, the balance of evidence favors success over collapse. Critics broadly describe it as a major statement with enough lyrical force, thematic ambition and sonic growth to justify most of its sprawl. The fairest verdict is that *The Great Divide* is not flawless, but it is a substantial artistic achievement whose best songs are strong enough to outweigh its excess.

3 articles · Updated · Billboard · Apr 24

Noah Kahan's fourth studio album, The Great Divide, was released in April 2026 and co-produced with Gabe Simon and Aaron Dessner.
The album features 17 tracks exploring Kahan's relationships, fame, and personal growth, with standout singles like the title track peaking at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Recorded in New York and Nashville, The Great Divide builds on Kahan's storytelling tradition, following the success of Stick Season and his 2024 Grammy nomination, and is further explored in his Netflix documentary.

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Billboard85d ago

Billboard Ranks All 17 Tracks from Noah Kahan's New Album 'The Great Divide'

primetimer.com85d ago

The definitive ranking of all 17 tracks on Noah Kahan's The Great Divide - PRIMETIMER

kjwl.com85d ago

Noah Kahan's 'The Great Divide': All 17 Tracks Ranked | K-Jewel 99.3 FM

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Does Kahan's 77-minute album succeed as a masterpiece or buckle under its own weight?

Is *The Great Divide* a bitter breakup album, or a more complex love letter to home?

How does an album about leaving Vermont resonate in a state actively fighting to rebuild itself?

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9 total

Billboard85d ago

Billboard Ranks All 17 Tracks from Noah Kahan's New Album 'The Great Divide'

primetimer.com85d ago

The definitive ranking of all 17 tracks on Noah Kahan's The Great Divide - PRIMETIMER

kjwl.com85d ago

Noah Kahan's 'The Great Divide': All 17 Tracks Ranked | K-Jewel 99.3 FM

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Billboard ranks all 17 tracks from Noah Kahan's new album The Great Divide

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