About the Album:
Folk-rock singer/songwriter Noah Kahan was born in Vermont in 1997. He released his first album, Busyhead, in 2019 after putting out the EP Hurt Somebody a year earlier. Another EP, Cape Elizabeth, followed in 2020 and another studio album, I Was/I Am, in 2021. The latter cracked the Billboard album chart, reaching #154. At this point, he had yet to have a song reach the Billboard Hot 100 although the 2017 single “Hurt Somebody,” which was featured on Busyhead, did get to #14 in Australia and eventually went gold. Kahan released his third album, Stick Season, in 2022. It proved to be a major breakthrough, getting to #2 on the Billboard album chart and going double platinum.
Expanded Editions
Over the next couple of years, he expanded it twice, first in 2023 as Stick Season (We’ll All Be Here Forever) and again in 2024 as Stick Season (Forever). The new editions expanded the original album from fourteen to thirty tracks, including new songs and new takes on originals. The expansions also found Kahan dueting with a slew of other musicians including Post Malone, Hozier, Kacey Musgraves, and Brandi Carlile.
Themes
In her review for Hilltopviewsonline.com, Anna Pratts called the album “an intimate, gentle and honest journey through change and growth,” AP describing it as “the soundtrack for those that moved away from home…It’s for those that go back knowing that the place is still the same, but they are not. It’s for those that reminisce on the little moments and the things and people that were lost along the way.” AP She also says, “It makes you want to move to a small town in the Northeast or in the Pacific Northwest.” AP
Pratt says of Kahan that his “voice is unique, welcoming the listeners into the world he built and guiding us through feelings like pain, loss, love, and longing that we all have experienced at some point. He creates an environment where those feelings and are seen and the audience feels comfortable. Listening to his music feels like you are talking to a friend.” AP
The Songs
Here are insights into individual tracks.
“Northern Attitude”
The album’s second single, Northern Attitude, became successful after a 2023 re-release of the song that featured Kahan dueting with Hozier. It became another top-40 hit and million seller. Thematically, the song addressed the loneliness Kahan felt growing up in an isolated, rural town (Strattford, Vermont) of less than 2000 people. WK3 Kahan also used the song to address hesitancy and fear in relationships by using the bleakness of winter to symbolize a closed heart. WK3 It “brings light to how growing up in the cold can leave people with a frosty personality.” ES
“Stick Season”
The title cut was released as the first single from the album. It was only moderately successful originally but went viral on TikTok after it was covered on BBC Radio 1 by singer Olivia Rodrigo. Then it became a #1 hit in the UK and Australia, reached #10 on the Billboard Hot 100, and went four times platinum. Kahan was skeptical that a song about his home state of Vermont would catch on with people who didn’t live there, but reaction was universally positive. WK2
Kahan explained that “stick season” was a reference to “the time in Vermont when all the leaves are off the trees. It’s a term that was used…to describe this really miserable time of year when it’s just kind of gray and cold, and there’s no snow yet and the…beauty of the foliage is done.” AR Kahan said it is “a time of transition” that meant “winter is coming soon and it creates a lot of anxiety.” WK2 It becomes a symbol for Noah “being stuck between his anger at a failed relationship and the guilt he feels over how it ended. He can’t move on because everything around him serves as a reminder of what he lost.” ES
“All My Love”
“Kahan sings to an ex-lover who has moved on from both him and their small hometown.” AR “He sings about how there are no hard feelings, and how they did what they needed to do to change and be better. It’s a sweet message that shows not only the power of Noah’s songwriting, but the gracious personality he embodies as well.” ES
“She Calls Me Back”
Who doesn’t love a little unrequited love song?” ES Kahan fantasizes about reuniting with an ex. “Receiving a call back is all he needs to be all right.” AR “He was too afraid to commit [but] …now he realizes he’s in a better place, and should she ever come back, ready to pick up where they left off. He’s putting himself on the line, asking her to give him another chance, but from his perspective alone, it doesn’t seem likely. It’s a refreshing change of pace to hear a man openly singing about his own faults, leaving the woman faultless and still as important to him as ever.” ES
A duet version with Kacey Musgraves was recorded for Stick Season (Forever) and released as a single. It got to #76 on the Billboard Hot 100. “Kacey brings in another perspective to the song, singing the reverse of some of Noah’s lyrics from the original version. We learn here that she’s actively avoiding Noah, trying to live her new life and cut old ties. However, there’s still an attachment there – she’s moved on but still calls from time to time.” ES
“Come Over”
“This song reflects a lot on Noah’s own mental health and struggles. He sings about his faults but looks forward to a more beautiful future.” ES “Kahan comments on his poverty-stricken home life and how his family’s lack of money made him feel lonely and unwanted as a child.” AR He “details his worries about how his peers will view him based on his house and materialistic property. He is scared of his status changing when his peers discover that his house is not as big as many of their houses, and he has a fantasy of his family stepping out of poverty and into riches.” AR
“New Perspective”
Kahan laments that others are changing while he remains stagnant. “He wishes to drag everyone down with him, preventing them from gaining any ‘new perspective.’ The expansion of his hometown, including a new Target and a ‘downtown’ area scares Kahan, as he is afraid that these changes will make the people whom he loves expand their minds and grow beyond him and their small town.” AR
“Everywhere, Everything”
This is “one of the more potent love songs in the album.” AR “Noah expresses that all he wants is to spend the rest of his life (and after) with the person who means the most to him. The two are so engrossed with each other that nothing else matters or even registers, as he states, ‘We didn’t know that the sun was collapsing – till the seas rose, and the buildings came crashing.’ It’s a reminder that nothing is permanent and that we should embrace every moment we can with our loved ones.” ES
This is another song that got the duet treatment on the Stick Season (Forever) edition in which he paired up with Gracie Adams. It “works better as a duet” ES as “Noah and Gracie’s sounds complement each other well.” ES “Even without Gracie making her own verse, it still seems fresh and completely separate from the original version.” ES
“Orange Juice”
“This track deals with the touchy subject of getting sober, which is approached by Kahan gently and tenderly.” AR “The concept of orange juice in the song stands for a substitute for alcohol that will hopefully prevent the temptation of drinking and relapsing.” AR Kahan “tells the story of a friendship that drifted apart because of an alcohol-related trauma; where his friend chose to get sober after the incident, but Noah and his friends stayed the same. The friend is angry and trying to understand why they haven’t changed, while Noah tries to understand why his friend left.” ES “Ultimately, the song is about growing and changing, and losing people you love, but doing it all for the better.” ES Kahan’s “songwriting talent and soulful passion shine here, as he not only sings but belts each gut-wrenching lyric to this ballad.” ES
“Strawberry Wine”
This song about lost love is “the most heartbreaking track on the album. Kahan sings about wishing to be able to let go but being incapable of combatting his grief.” AR “The characters in this song seem to have fallen too quickly…They begin the story thinking of themselves as a ‘we,’ rather than their own unique individuals – however, once they mature a bit and split up, they see each other as their own people. They just weren’t compatible, and forcing a relationship to work is never a good idea. Poignant and bittersweet, like strawberry wine itself, the song carries a message that will stick with the listener long after it ends.” ES
“Growing Sideways”
“Growing Sideways is a personal insight into Noah’s own traumas and his healing experience.” ES He “sings about his unhealthy coping mechanisms and his inability to feel better no matter what he does.” AR The song emphasizes “Kahan’s habit of ignoring problems and continuing to live despite his unaddressed mental health challenges.” AR He finally acknowledges that he needs help and “seeks out therapy and medication…Noah not only gets his struggles off his chest but can also convince his audience to seek help themselves. He pushes us to confront our own problems rather than “grow sideways” around them to evade them.” ES
“Halloween”
“Another song about losing a loving connection with someone, Halloween focuses on Kahan’s attempts to move on but the inescapable nostalgia of his past relationship.” AR “This song gives an air of desperation and exhaustion.” AR This is one of Kahan’s “most intelligently-crafted songs” ES delving into “Noah experiencing an emotional haunting of sorts as he yearns to grow and separate from a previous relationship but still finds himself being held back by his thoughts on the situation. He sees this person in everything and can never escape how he feels about their ending. Painting the other person as a ghost creates a beautiful sense of imagery that haunts the listener just as it haunts Noah.” ES
“Homesick”
“Homesick perfectly encapsulates that feeling that so many of us are all too acquainted with, where all you want is to be anywhere other than where you are.” ES “Kahan sings about his exasperation with the lack of change in his hometown and his inability to escape. He sings, ‘I would leave if only I could find a reason’ and ‘I will die in the house that I grew up in,’ highlighting his feeling of being stuck in the monotonous day-to-day life in his hometown. Whereas ‘homesick’ would normally mean yearning for your home after being away for some time, Kahan uses a play on words to mean that he is sick of living in his hometown.” AR
This is another song that got the duet treatment (this time with Sam Fender) when re-released on Stick Season (Forever). The two grew up with similar backgrounds and “the pride and bitterness they both express in this song build off of each other and make them stronger.” ES
“Still”
“Delving into life’s lack of permanence, Kahan reflects on losing a loved one, whether it be through death or a breakup. ‘Grab a past box of photos, I rip myself open,’ is a line that emphasizes the emotional turmoil that can result from revisiting memories. In addition, ‘And I used to watch my mother move like God was in the room,’ provides commentary on the act of children idolizing their parents and the impact that parents’ behavior has on children’s behavior. This contributes to the theme of impermanence as when one grows, one begins to realize their parents’ faults and…lack of perfection.” AR
“The View Between Villages”
This is “a nostalgic song about yearning to be back in one’s childhood.” AR It “steadily rises into a powerful and angry bridge/culmination, with an overall sound that’s completely unique from the rest of Noah’s discography.” “In the first two verses, Kahan reflects on his childhood innocence…In the ensuing chorus, Kahan’s voice becomes angrier, taking a more negative tone to the idea of being grown up,” AR even expressing “anger about being beyond his childhood and having lost what he sees as his best years.” AR
“As the original conclusion of the album, this song served to wrap up the story, going over themes we’ve heard in previous tunes, but in a way that feels completely fresh and entirely too relatable. It’s dramatic and angry and absolutely perfect.” ES
An extended version of the song appears on Stick Seasons (We’ll All Be Here Forever) “painting an even more vibrant picture of the story as Noah is pulled between past and present.” ES It “includes a spoken-word bridge… [with] voices of two residents of Strafford, Vermont.” AR They make “sweet comments…on how much Strafford means to them and everything that it has done for them. Following this bridge, Kahan sings an outro ending in the final line, ‘I’m back between villages, and everything’s still.’ This final line brings finality to the album’s overall theme of being stuck between loving one’s hometown and dreading one’s hometown, having guilt about leaving while struggling to stay put.” AR
“Your Needs, My Needs”
“Yet another song discussing different perspectives of a breakup.” AR “Nothing beats hearing Noah’s northern accent absolutely wailing about feelings of powerlessness as he tells the story of watching someone he loves struggle but is unable to help. We all want to do everything we can to help the people we care about during their time of need, but sometimes, all there is to do is be patient and wait for them to tell you what they need. Your needs might differ from my needs, as we understand through this positively brutal listen. “ ES
“Dial Drunk”
The 2023 deluxe edition of Stick Season featured seven additional songs, including Dial Drunk, which was released as the lead single. The song caught the attention of singer/rapper Post Malone. He dueted with Kahan on a version of the song, which gave Kahan his third top-40 hit. The song exemplifies how Kahan treats collaborations. He lets the other artists “bring their own unique sound, and occasionally lyrics, to his works, making them better for his fans everywhere. Post Malone adds a new verse to the song, using a country-esque drawl that many hadn’t heard from him before and expanding the story further.” ES
It is a “deeply saddening story hidden by layers of upbeat energy.” ES It “is written from the perspective of a drunk who has just been arrested.” AR He uses his “one phone call on someone who refuses to be a part of his self-destructive behavior any longer.” ES “The emergency contact does not pick up and Kahan sings, ‘Honey, it rang and rang/ Even the cops thought you were wrong for hangin’ up.’ The cop even questions the drunk as he continues to call.” AR
Kahan said, “the reaction to ‘Dial Drunk has been so incredible and so overwhelming. I never know when or why a song is going to land and to see the meaning and connection you have drawn from this track has inspired me in a way I have never been inspired before.” WK4
“Paul Revere”
This is a song “about getting away from the place you’re from physically but never fully leaving mentally.” ES It “is an allusion to midnight rider Paul Revere, who rode from Boston to Lexington to warn John Hancock and Samuel Adams about the approaching redcoats. Kahan uses this reference to say, ‘One day, I’m gonna cut it clear/ Ride like Paul Revere/ And, when they ask me who I am/ I’ll say, ‘I’m not from around here’.’ As in ‘Homesick,’ Kahan is desperate to escape his hometown and leave his traumatic past behind him, but he is incapable of leaving. His dream is to ‘ride like Paul Revere’ and skip town, but his reality is ‘If I could leave, I would’ve already left.’” AR
A duet version with Gregory Alan Isakov was released on Stick Season (Forever). “Their harmonies together gave new life to the chorus of this song and somehow made it sound like an entirely new work.” ES “Listening to a song about feeling like a stranger in your own home sounds depressing, but somehow, Paul Revere is one of the most therapeutic, full-blast anthems on the album.” ES
“No Complaints”
“No Complaint exists in the perfect spot because, after several songs where Noah sings about not being ready to accept help, this song plays and tells a story of the issues that can still be faced when that help is offered.” ES “Like in ‘Growing Sideways,’ Kahan sings about his unhealthy view on coping with his mental health.” AR “He finally takes his medication, designed to ‘fix’ him, but it ends up just numbing him to everything. It’s a difficult listen but a well-stated reminder that good things take time – nothing in life is an immediate or perfect solution to anything.” ES
“Call Your Mom”
“This might be one of the saddest stories we hear throughout the album.” ES Kahan writes of a loved one “stuck deep in a pit of despair” ES and contemplating suicide. Kahan “promises to stick around to help her find happiness again. He vows to call her mom and make sure that nothing bad happens while he’s around.” ES The “song is both heartbreaking as well as comforting, emphasizing the unforeseeable and delicate nature of life as well as how loved everybody is, even if some people don’t realize it.” AR
A duet version with Lizzy McAlpine was released on Stick Season (Forever). Adding her “signature mellow croon is a stroke of genius. With the power of their voices combined, Noah and Lizzy offer a beautiful message of hope through the darkest moments to their audience.” ES “Hhaving another person singing the chorus with him makes it seem so much more full, and like there is an entire support system singing to the listener, rather than one person.” ES
“You’re Gonna Go Far”
“A very common theme in this album is Kahan’s criticism of his hometown and how he feels that it holds people back.” AR On this bittersweet track, Kahan sings of “a loved one leaving town to move on to bigger and better things.” AR “While the singer is sorrowful about the departure of his loved one, he is excited about what they will achieve by leaving town.” AR “He knows that they’ll be better in the new place they’re in now.” ES
A duet version with Brandi Carlile was released on Stick Season (Forever). “Singing such a personal song with Brandi makes this version extra special.” ES In her review for HerCampus.com, Eva Schoen said, “I’m sure I’m not alone when I say that it felt like forgiveness hearing this song like Mom and Dad telling me that they’re proud of me, even though they miss having me around.” ES
“Forever”
This was the only new song featured on the 2024 edition of Stick Season (Forever). It was released as a single and gave Kahan his fourth top-40 hit. “The layering of his own vocals combined with some of his emotionally sweetest lyrics yet give birth to Forever, a song dedicated to his past self. He sings about how he used to feel that love and spending eternity with someone was a trap, but upon finding the right person, it now feels like his greatest gift yet. This song is the perfect conclusion to his solo version of the album.” ES
|
No comments:
Post a Comment