On Oct. 14, 2022, folk-pop artist Noah Kahan released his third studio album. The album had 14 tracks, some of those tracks including a few of Kahan’s most popular songs like Stick Season and Northern Attitude.
On June 9, 2023, Kahan released Stick Season (We’ll All Be Here Forever). The album contains 21 tracks. Stick Season (We’ll All Be Here Forever) is an extended version of the third studio album Stick Season.
Since the release of the album, Stick Season (We’ll All Be Here Forever), due to popular demand by fans, Kahan has released some of the same songs from the album as singles but with features from well-known artists such as Post Malone, Lizzy McAlpine, Kacey Musgraves, Hozier, and Gracie Abrams.
On Feb. 9, 2024, Kahan released another extended version of Stick Season. This version, called Stick Season (Forever), includes all the singles that Kahan released, two new songs and collaborations with musical artists Brandi Carlile and Gregory Alan Isakov.
Since hearing songs off of Stick Season (We’ll All Be Here Forever), I knew that Stick Season (Forever) would be just as good if not better than the first one.
Forever
Ever since Kahan teased a sample of this song on his TikTok account in 2023, I knew that I would love it. To me, this song is Kahan singing about how he has come to the realization that he will not be alone forever. I like how Kahan starts off the song more soft-spoken and quiet then gets louder once he realizes that he has no reason to be sad because the feeling of being alone is only temporary.
I found Kahan’s lyricism very clever in this song; the line, “I’ll build a boat for when the river gets high,” for example. Kahan is known for putting plays on religious references in his music and the clever thing about this verse is that Kahan’s first name is Noah. Paired with that verse, Kahan referenced Noah’s Ark that was built in the bible. Kahan releasing this song made Stick Season even better than I could have imagined it to be.
Dial Drunk (with Post Malone)
The first time hearing Dial Drunk, it was not one of my favorites on the album until Kahan featured Post Malone. I found that Malone was able to give the song a different type of vibe that Kahan could not give it alone. Kahan’s and Malone’s voices work so well togetherwhich was a surprise to me since they both sing and write such different types of music from each other. Kahan featuring Malone on the song was a great decision on Kahan’s behalf.
Call Your Mom (with Lizzy McAlpine)
I knew Lizzy McApline’s music before I knew who Kahan was so once I found out that Kahan and McAlpine had a song together, I just knew it would be good. They both have such soft-spoken voices that exude a lot of emotion when singing. With the similarities in their voices, the song, Call Your Mom, can be performed to the best of its ability. The song holds so much emotion and is one of the best songs on the album.
She Calls Me Back (with Kacey Musgraves)
Again, She Calls Me Back was another song that featured an artist I knew before Kahan. Kacey Musgraves added so much feminine energy to the song which I enjoyed. Musgraves’ voice also came together whith Kahans really well, making the song perfect for this album. After hearing this song for the first time I have not been able to stop listening.
Northern Attitude (with Hozier)
Out of all the songs on the Stick Season (forever) album, I must admit that Northern Attitude is one of my least favorites. I think that the lyrics of the song are well written and Kahan having Hozier featured on the song was very fitting for the album but just is not my favorite.
Everywhere, Everything (with Gracie Abrams)
Once again, I knew and had heard of Gracie Abrams before hearing of Kahan. I have enjoyed many of Abrams’ songs in her discography so I had a feeling in my bones that this would be a hit. I remember hearing this song for the first time and being overcome with emotions because of how amazing this song was. Everything about this song is perfect from the way Abrams sings to the way Kahan belts. Everywhere, Everything is the best song on the Stick Season (forever) album.
Homesick (with Sam Fender)
The first time I heard this song, I was not a fan. This song took about three listens until I started to like it. My favorite part of the song is the chorus and Sam Fender’s part. This song just proves Kahan’s ability to work well with other artists and their varying voices.
You’re Gonna Go Far (with Brandi Carlile)
Unfortunately, this is one of the songs I liked better when it was just Kahan singing. I think that Brandi Carlile is a great artist and her voice is very nice alongside Kahans but comparing it to the version where Kahan sings alone, I must say that I prefer You’re Gonna Go Far with just Kahan.
Paul Revere (with Gregory Alan Isakov)
One of the best things about this song is how Kahan and Gregory Alan Isakov can sing so well together. This is a collaboration I didn’t know I needed but I am so glad it happened. The only bad thing I can say about this song is that I wish it was longer than it was. The song is so good that it feels so short although it is an average length of a song.
Overall, I think that the album, Stick Season (forever), is a great extended version of Stick Season with amazing features and lyrics. With his career still growing, I can’t wait to see how he grows as an artist.
