Noah Kahan – Stick Season (2xLP)

Stick Season (2022) is Noah Kahan’s breakthrough album — a heartfelt and finely crafted collection that transforms small-town melancholy into universal emotion. Rooted in folk traditions but framed with a modern sensibility, the record captures themes of isolation, nostalgia, and self-discovery through vivid storytelling. Kahan’s warm, plaintive voice and acoustic-driven arrangements give songs like “Stick Season,” “Northern Attitude,” and “Homesick” a sense of immediacy and honesty. Every lyric feels lived-in, reflecting both the beauty and ache of growing up and finding your place in the world. The album’s power lies in its simplicity — its melodies are intimate, its emotions unguarded. Produced with care and restraint, Stick Season showcases Kahan’s evolution from pop-leaning songwriter to authentic folk craftsman, bridging influences from The Lumineers to early Springsteen. It’s a deeply relatable record that finds grace in uncertainty and connection in vulnerability, marking Kahan as one of contemporary folk’s most resonant voices.

Reviews

“Stick Season is heartfelt, melodic, and beautifully human — a modern folk triumph.” – Rolling Stone

“Noah Kahan captures rural heartbreak with rare empathy and lyrical precision.” – The Guardian

“A tender, quietly powerful record that feels both timeless and deeply of its moment.” – AllMusic