Welcome to “Cut Through the Noise,” a new column from the St. Louis Park Echo covering new music releases. Every week, a different Echo staffer will take on the role as writer, reviewing recent releases aiming for success.

GUCCI GANG – Lil Pump: ★★

On his new track, “Gucci Gang,” Lil Pump once again conforms to the style of many modern rappers and raps about nothing. Around fifty

percent of the song is just the title, “Gucci Gang,” which is no surprise since this track is off his new album, “Lil Pump.” Along with the repetitive nature of the lyrics, the song contains numerous random noises and references to being rich and drunk. Although the song lacks a substantial amount of creativity, it manages to serve as a good party song. “Gucci Gang” has a decent beat that DJ’s could easily remix and make their own better and more interesting beat. Although it lacks lyrical originality and genius, “Gucci Gang” is short and easy to get into.

HOW LONG – Charlie Puth: ★★★★

A song with a bassline that can immediately get your head bouncing is already a good one in my book. In stark contrast to Lil Pump’s 

“Gucci Gang,” the lyrics on Charlie Puth’s “How Long” seem to have meaning to Puth himself. Albeit the lyrics might as well be copy-and-pasted from just about every other love song, Puth still manages to rope me in. His vocals are fantastic and fun to listen to, and his vocal range is extremely wide, allowing him to harmonize with himself through vocal layering. This vocal technique really makes the hair on your neck stand up — in a good way. All around, “How Long”  has a great beat, melody and vocals. I’ll definitely be adding this song to my playlists.

PRAY – Sam Smith: ★★★★

Sam Smith shows off vocal prowess once again on his new song, “Pray.” Smith utilizes a beat that at first

sounds like a rap song, but quickly evolves into a more somber yet upbeat tempo. The song’s lyrics resonate a greater message to the singer and the audience, making Smith’s performance better and more passionate. Smith also has an outstanding vocal range, but instead of carrying the song himself with layered vocals, Smith opts to bring choirs into his music. Despite the choirs, Smith shows off his impressive vocal chops by quickly hitting high notes and dropping down to a lower note effortlessly. Personally, I feel the song moves too slowly until around the two minute mark. However, Smith’s vocals do give me chills upon first listen, and I definitely recommend this song to anyone who’s looking to feel inspired.