Welcome to “Cut Through the Noise” an entertainment column from the St. Louis Park Echo covering new music releases. Every week, a different Echo staffer takes on the role of writer, reviewing recent single releases from a variety of artists.
‘Wish I Didn’t’ – Megan Moroney ★★★★★
With a recent rebirth of country music, Megan Moroney is a staple of contemporary country. With her first two albums, “Lucky” and “Am I Okay?,” she has contributed to the redefinition of country as a music genre. As a Megan Moroney fan, I was so excited to see a new single from her on my Spotify leading up to her new album “Cloud 9” coming out Feb. 20. “Wish I Didn’t” is a fun track, an instant earworm. Centering around the idea of being let down by a person you have feelings for gave it a similar feel to Sabrina Carpenter’s “Please, Please, Please” but with a country twist. I found myself singing the chorus over and over again throughout the days after the song ’s release; it’s still stuck in my head. I loved the way the beat would drop, and you knew you were going to want to dance. Moroney’s classic country vocals mixed with a pop beat made the track all the more enjoyable as a listener. “Wish I Didn’t” is catchy, fun and fresh. I can’t wait to hear what Moroney does next with her upcoming music.
‘To Love Somebody’ – Holly Humberstone ★★★★☆
Holly Humberstone, an up-and-coming British singer-songwriter, has a range of alternative-pop songs marked by her breathy, angelic vocals. “To Love Somebody” is Humberstone’s second single leading up to the release of her sophomore album, “Cruel World.” While I always enjoy a Holly Humberstone bop, this one felt repetitive. The beat was a party to listen to, and Humberstone’s vocals are always beautiful, but I didn’t enjoy this song as much as her last single, “Die Happy.” I really loved the various rhythms she used to lead the listener into the chorus, but when the chorus came, I waited until the verse came back to bring something new into the song. While it definitely feels like a song I could jump and dance to in my room, it didn’t hit the high mark that I expect from a new Humberstone song.
‘Aperture’ – Harry Styles ★★★☆☆
As a fan of Harry Styles since the One Direction days, I was thrilled to see the announcement of his new album “Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally.” I got more excited when I saw Styles’ single “Aperture” leading up to the release, but that excitement made the single all the more disappointing to listen to. Styles’ vocal ability is remarkable in its emotion and range, and I’ve always loved his heartfelt and emotional songs like “Matilda” or pop-style tunes like “Satellite,” both from his 2022 album “Harry’s House.” Listening to “Aperture” felt like five minutes of too many ideas that were stuck together with tape. While some parts of the song were enjoyable to listen to, the organization felt messy and dragged out. The almost electric or static sounds felt like a complete energy shift from Styles’ past music, and detached me from what I was listening to. I can see and appreciate the ideas and thinking behind “Aperture,” but it missed the mark for what I’d expect from Styles as he evolves in his music career.
