NOAH KAHAN - STICK SEASON
New Englander folk-pop sensation, Noah Kahan released his highly anticipated deluxe version of his third studio album, Stick Season. The Stick Season deluxe, titled “We’ll All Be Here Forever”, features 7 new tracks.
In his record “Stick Season”, Kahan highlights the bittersweet relationship between him and his hometown, Strafford, Vermont. Whether it be Identity, Home, or Relationships, Kahan struggles with finding his sense of place. Trying to grapple with the simultaneous love and hate for where you grew up is a consistent internal battle that is highlighted in this album. It captures the sense of feeling stuck in your hometown while also not wanting to leave the place that you know so well.
The first of the new songs is a track titled “Your Needs, My Needs”. It starts soft and somber, with incredibly beautiful lyrics detailing his love for somebody. He expresses the frustration of a troubled relationship, as he was in love with his partner but their needs were not meeting in the middle as they should’ve. The beat starts to kick in, more instrumentation is added, then Kahan releases all his frustration with screaming one to two word sentences as the beat drops. The song suddenly turns intense, and it gives an incredible freeing feeling, lifting a weight off your chest as you scream along.
The most anticipated song of the track list, “Dial Drunk”, has been teased on TikTok and quickly became popular. The upbeat banjo track is accompanied by heartbreaking lyrics, telling the story of someone in a desperate time, using their emergency phone call to the one they love; only for their love to hang up. “I ain’t proud of all the punches I’ve thrown. In the name of someone I no longer know. For the shame of being young, drunk, and alone”… exclaims Kahan.
“I gave your name as my emergency phone call. Honey, it rang and rang, even the cops thought you were wrong for hanging up. I dial drunk, I’ll die a drunk, I’d die for you.” The person he put the most trust in, didn’t trust him back; the struggles with a sense of place in relationships is highlighted in the long-awaited song. Despite the somber lyrics, the uptempo beat with the timbre of the banjo gives the perfect summer-y folk groove.
This tune is claimed to be a sister-song to “She Calls Me Back” on the album. “Everything’s alright when she calls me back, she calls me back. Lost for a long time..” is featured in that track, showing striking similarities which can be up for interpretation.
“Paul Revere” is another song of his that expresses the want to leave your hometown. The track feels comfortingly familiar, with soft banjo, strings, and acoustic guitar as it guides you through the emotion of battling the comforting familiarity of your hometown, and also wanting to leave. This is a popular theme of his, as the tunes “Homesick” and “New Perspective” both take on different aspects of that struggle as well.
“No Complaints” is full of pure, raw emotion. The slow-tempo track explores being at a low point, while also belittling your own emotions. “I saw the end, it looked just like the middle. Got a paper and pen and a page with no space. I filled the hole in my head with prescription medication, then forgot how to cry, who am I, who am I to complain?”. The struggle of being at a low, but not helping yourself because you could be lower, is a vicious cycle that Kahan ultimately struggles with. His voice perfectly articulates frustration and the attempt to comfort yourself simultaneously, aided by the pushing drum beat.
If you thought your heart couldn’t break anymore than it has, the next track “Call Your Mom” shatters it into a million pieces. Kahan’s soothing falsetto is featured in this track tastefully as it is brought with soft, comforting guitar. “Don’t let this darkness fool you. All lights turned off can be turned on.” Is featured in the chorus, then the bridge starts “Medicate, meditate, save your sound for Jesus. Throw a punch, fall in love, give yourself a reason. Don’t wanna drive another mile without knowin’ you’re breathing. So won’t you stay, won’t you stay, won’t you stay with me?”. These lyrics give such a beautiful reminder that things will always get better, lights can be turned back on, and people truly care. If you or a loved one has struggled with mental health, it can be so overwhelming; but a reminder of the good things like this song can be more helpful than you’d think. Kahan is no stranger to the struggle, as his own mental health is what inspires his relatable songs, and they hit the heartstrings of more people around the world.
Growing up and leaving your hometown is no easy thing to do, emotions can be all over the place, whether or not they are good or bad. “You’re Gonna Go Far” explores the perspective of the person who stayed, and had to watch others leave the town they grew up in. “So pack up your car, put a hand to your heart. Say whatever you feel, be wherever you are. We ain’t angry at you love, you’re the greatest thing we’ve lost. The birds’ll still sing, your folks’ll still fight, the boards’ll still creak, the leaves will still die. We ain’t angry at you love, we’ll be waiting for you, love. And we’ll all be here forever.” Sing Kahan. The up-beat, bright song brings comfort to anyone in fear of disappointing those they will ultimately leave as they grow up and go onto bigger things. The guitar, backing vocals, and even the whistles at the end bring a summery-pop feeling which help carry on the theme that everything will be okay.
Closing out the deluxe is “The View Between Villages (Extended)”. This track is a fan-favorite, as most live performances of “The View Between Villages” have been the extended version. The entire album’s paradoxes are perfectly captured on this final song, which depicts Kahan driving down a familiar rural road and feeling a whirlwind of emotions. His voice is solemn and soothing as he sings “ And there is meaning on Earth, I am happy.” The instrumentation intensifies as he is reminded of all the versions of him in the past that have lived there. “The death of my dog, the stretch of my skin. It’s all washing over me, I’m angry again” is bellowed out as he comes to terms with himself. Just as you think the song is over, the extended version of the song starts. Kahan brought in recordings of Stanford, Vermont locals to describe what the small town means to them. It brings such a real, touching feeling to the song.
The vocals, emotions, and instrumentation increase into a freeing musical experience that you can feel in your chest. “Left at the graveyard, I’m driving past ghosts. Their arms are extended, my eyes start to close” is the last line delivered on a heightened note as he turns softer and more at peace as he exclaims “The car’s in reverse. I’m grippin’ the wheel. I’m back between villages, and everything’s still.”
Noah Kahan beautifully depicts the loaded word that is “home”. He is brutally honest with himself and listeners as he describes his own turmoil in finding his place. The music he puts out is so refreshingly real you can’t turn it off. His musicality is truly shining in this album as he comes more into himself and his sound, and his lyricism never disappoints. No matter what emotion you are feeling, there is a Noah Kahan song to meet you there. I personally am very excited to see where his talent takes him next, his career is going to be beautiful to watch.
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Check out his upcoming tour dates here.
Also check out his new mental health project, “The Busyhead Project” and donate here.