At some point in your life, you have probably heard the song about Vermont and sticks, whether on the radio or online. The song, “Stick Season,” by Noah Kahan has gone viral many times on various platforms for its resonating lyrics about being lonely during the pandemic, Vermont, and missing other people. The song captures the feeling of wanting another person to come back while knowing that that will never happen in an extremely vulnerable and noteworthy way, connecting with millions of listeners. However, not many people know that “Stick Season” is the title track of the album it is from, which leads to the question: is the album actually good, or is there just one good song from it?

Stick Season is a pop-folk album written by Noah Kahan and originally released in October 2022. Since then, the album has been released two more times with additional and extended songs and collaborations with other artists, such as Gracie Abrams, Lizzy McApline, and Post Malone. The album itself focuses on the pains of growing up in New England, battling with mental health and addiction, and love and loss. With how personal the lyrics are to Kahan’s life experiences, it is hard to see why, without listening to it, the album would be relatable for someone who has led a different life than Kahan. 

The personal and almost too detailed lyrics are exactly what makes the album resonate with listeners. His writing is so truthful that it is hard not to find a way in which the lyrics apply to your own life. Not to mention his outstanding vocals and guitar skills that make the songs catchy and hard to get out of your head. Songs such as “Northern Attitude” and “All My Love” are upbeat with hard-hitting lyrics about growing up in the cold, making a person mean, and wishing people the best. Whereas “Come Over” is slow and about struggling to make friends with other people. The album itself is a love letter to New England and every person who has struggled at some point in their life. It’s a must-listen, feel-good album that deserves more recognition than some viral success for the title track. And now is the perfect time to listen to it, with Kahan’s new single, “The Great Divide,” coming out on January 30th!