Ranking:
- “You’re Gonna Go Far”
- “No Complaints”
- “Growing Sideways”
- “Call Your Mom”
- “Come Over”
- “Forever”
- “The View Between Villages” – Extended
- “Everywhere, Everything”
- “Orange Juice”
- “Northern Attitude (with Hozier)”
Overall Album Rating: 10/10
Noah Kahan’s most recent album, Stick Season (Forever), has, in many ways, been the catalyst for his success as a musician. For many fans, there’s something about the album that hits home. It could be the haunting lyrics about home, love, and heartbreak, the raw storytelling, or the way Kahan perfectly captures the bittersweet nature of change.
Hailing from the small town of Strafford, Vermont, Noah first began capturing attention with his heartfelt lyrics and raw, folk-inspired sound. The singer-songwriter first began writing songs at the age of eight and received his first guitar at ten. He released his debut single, “Young Blood” in 2017, and slowly began gaining recognition since then with his singles, albums, and EPs.
Although he released his first album, Busyhead, in 2019, it was Stick Season, originally released in 2022, that began to shine light on his name. In 2023, Kahan released Stick Season (We’ll All Be Here Forever), which included the original 14 songs on Stick Season but also contained an additional seven songs. Then, Stick Season (Forever) was released in 2024 and helped Kahan get much more recognition because the album had the 21 songs from the (We’ll All Be Here Forever) edition but also had one completely new song and eight of the previous songs with features from other artists. “Stick Season,” “Forever,” “Dial Drunk (with Post Malone),” and “Northern Attitude (with Hozier)” became his most popular songs, trending as audios on social media apps like TikTok and Instagram.
Stick Season has not only redefined Kahan’s career, but also solidified his place in the modern folk-pop genre. To me, it’s clear what makes these songs so special: the relatable and emotional story told with each word of his songs. So, while I believe the entire album is a masterpiece, let’s dive into the standout tracks that make this album extra special to me. Here’s a ranking of the best songs from Stick Season (Forever):
1. “You’re Gonna Go Far”
I had to put “You’re Gonna Go Far” at #1 because the song feels like a gentle reminder that no matter how difficult the journey gets, something positive awaits at the end. Kahan’s lyricism in this song truly speaks to me; it feels like a warm hug on a brisk autumn morning, like having my mom console me after a long day. It feels like comfort and home, wrapped up with Kahan’s signature melody and soothing voice tying it all together with a nice bow. There are truly no words to describe the warmth and reassurance this song provides me and countless other fans with, even when I’m at my lowest and feel like I’m disintegrating into dust. The catchy chorus –– “So, pack up your car, put a hand on 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” –– perfectly encapsulates the mix of nostalgia and encouragement the entire song holds. Sometimes, these lyrics bring me peace, while other times, these lyrics leave me wanting to cry and wishing someone would tell me this in real life. Either way, this song is evidence of Kahan’s ability to tug on heartstrings.
2. “No Complaints”
“No Complaints” delves into the complexities of personal growth, struggles, and mental health — I felt compelled to put this song at #2 because of its relatability and rawness. With lyrics such as, “I filled the hole in my head with prescription medication / And forgot how to cry, who am I to complain?” and “Yes, I’m young and livin’ dreams / In love with being noticed and afraid of being seen,” Kahan perfectly encapsulates the emotional numbness and difficulties of being a young person trying to fix oneself. The acoustic guitar anchors the song, giving it a steady, reflective tone that complements the weight of its themes. The chorus, simple yet haunting, reinforces the inner war one feels when dealing with personal issues. This song strikes a chord with anyone who’s wrestled with feelings of stagnation or inadequacy, even when everything outwardly seems fine. The beauty of “No Complaints” lies in its unflinching vulnerability and Kahan’s ability to put into words the emotions many of us struggle to articulate. It’s a perfect example of why Stick Season (Forever) resonates so deeply with fans — it feels like a shared moment of understanding and reflection.
3. “Growing Sideways”
“Growing Sideways” delves deeply into themes of personal growth, struggles, and mental health. The song portrays the feeling of being stuck in a perpetual state of limbo, where one is not improving, but merely existing. There’s so many lines in this song that feel like a slap to the face, as though Kahan looked into my own head and wrote a song about my own emotions. It’s a song I believe everyone should truly listen to at least once. Lyrics like, “So, I took my medication and I poured my trauma out,” “But I ignore things, and I move sideways / ‘Til I forget what I felt in the first place / At the end of the day, I know there are worse ways / To stay alive / ‘Cause everyone’s growing and everyone’s healthy,” “Why is pain so damn impatient? Ain’t like it’s got a place to be / Keeps rushing me,” and, “And if all my life was wasted / I don’t mind, I’ll watch it go / Yeah, it’s better to die numb than feel it all” highlight the experience of pushing forward and functioning while emotionally drained. The lyrics reflect the avoidance of confronting overwhelming emotions and trying to decide the best way to move forward, which resonates with listeners who have grappled with such feelings of insufficiency, anxiety, and depression. Kahan doesn’t hold back in this song, and it’s one of the things that makes it feel so powerful to me.
4. “Call Your Mom”
“Call Your Mom” is ranked at #4, once again because of the warm and introspective feeling Kahan’s lyrics invoke within me. This track is somewhat of an emotional rollercoaster and serves to remind us to cherish the relationships that matter most, even when life gets difficult. For me, it feels deeply personal, as Kahan’s musical storytelling taps into themes of love, regret, and loss. The melody, led by soft acoustic strumming, creates a quiet and reflective backdrop, allowing the lyrics to hit even harder. Lines like, “Don’t let this darkness fool you / All lights turned off can be turned on” hit especially hard, offering both reassurance and a gentle nudge to reach out and get support; it’s never too late to turn your life and emotions around.
5. “Come Over”
”Come Over” is a song that feels raw and emotionally charged. The song captures the vulnerability of wanting someone to connect with, someone to be there for you when life feels overwhelming, even if the relationship is imperfect. Kahan’s stripped-back sound paired with the acoustic melody make this track feel intimate and authentic and make me unable to resist singing along. Lines like, “I know that it ain’t much, I know that it ain’t cool / Oh, you don’t have to tell the other kids at school / My dad will strike it rich, we’ll be the big house on the block” and the repeated refrain of “Come over, come over” illustrate the desperate plea for comfort and intimacy, especially today, when so many people struggle to making authentic connections with others.
6. “Forever”
“Forever” is a fan favorite track about the passage of time, nostalgia, and love. The song reflects on the concept of forever, once perceived as daunting, now embraced as a realm of limitless possibilities. Kahan’s lyrics traverse memories of youthful adventures and intimate moments, highlighting the transformative power of love. The track’s cyclical structure, returning to its opening, mirrors the continuous journey of self-discovery and the enduring nature of meaningful connections. I feel like screaming along yet crying when Kahan sings meaningful lyrics like, “Used to wish I meant anything to anywhere, to anyone” and “And I’m glad I get forever to see where you end / I won’t be alone for the rest of my life.” The song’s instrumentation builds alongside Kahan’s growing confidence and the melody is overall upbeat and fast. The musical progression underscores the theme of embracing the future with optimism and openness. It’s a fitting conclusion to an album that’s all about navigating the highs and lows of life and quite honestly, I really struggled with its placement this low on my list because I love it so much.
7. “The View Between Villages” – Extended
This track is a masterpiece of nostalgia, and the extended version elevates the emotional weight of the original. It feels like a cinematic journey, both musically and emotionally, as Kahan captures the bittersweet feelings of confronting your past and present. The song paints a vivid image of small-town roads and sprawling landscapes. Two lines from the song that hit me the hardest are, “The death of my dog, the stretch of my skin / It’s all washing over me, I’m angry again” and “The things that I lost here, the people I knew / They got me surrounded for a mile or two.” The extended outro, my favorite part, swells with intensity, almost like a culmination of all the feelings Kahan experiences re-entering his old town. I don’t feel as though I personally connect to the lyrics of this song as well as I do with some of the others, but I absolutely love the melody and Kahan’s vocals, especially towards the end of the song, as his voice becomes stronger with his conviction.
8. “Everywhere, Everything”
At #8 is “Everywhere, Everything,” one of the most romantic and tender tracks on the album. It’s the perfect song to belt along to and to imagine a future where we find comfort and connection in this chaotic world. With its poetic lyrics, like “Everywhere, everything / I wanna love you ‘til we’re food for the worms to eat / ‘Til our fingers decompose / Keep my hand in yours,” Kahan beautifully conveys the overwhelming nature of love. It’s a song about enjoying love in the moment, even in a romance “destined” to fail.
9. “Orange Juice”
This track is a poignant and deeply emotional song that touches on themes of forgiveness, healing, and redemption. The lyrics narrate the story of someone in recovery from addiction and the complex emotions that are evoked when reconnecting with people from their past. It’s a powerful song, exploring empathy and understanding, capturing the process of rebuilding relationships after a difficult life period. The lyrics, “You said my heart has changed and my soul has changed / And my heart, and my heart / That my life changed…” capture the weight of transformation — it reflects the tension and bittersweet reality of personal growth, particularly in the context of recovery or significant life changes. The title “Orange Juice” metaphorically represents a small but meaningful act of care and normalcy, serving as a reminder that even a simple act of kindness can serve as a crutch to someone undergoing a difficult journey.
10. “Northern Attitude (with Hozier)”
Closing out my ranking, despite there being many more Kahan songs that I love, is “Northern Attitude,” the first track on the album. In my opinion, Hozier’s deep voice pairs perfectly with Kahan’s, making the collaboration better than the original song. “Northern Attitude” reflects on identity and the emotional impact of growing up in a certain environment, both a physical and mental one. The track’s powerful guitar riffs and layered melodies, along with lyrics like, “If I get too close / And I’m not how you hoped / Forgive my northern attitude / Oh, I was raised out in the cold,” create a reflective mood that makes people think about how they act, how others perceive them, and how we are shaped by our surroundings. While this song may be last on my list, it’s a beautiful piece of art and a fan favorite from Kahan.
Stick Season (Forever) is an album that perfectly encapsulates Noah Kahan’s growth as an artist and his ability to connect with listeners on a deeply personal level. Every song tells a story, and together they form a cohesive narrative of love, loss, and self-discovery. Whether it’s the intimate ballads or the powerful catchy tunes, this album is proof of why Kahan has become a rising star in the music industry.
