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.

I Miss You (feat. Julia Michaels) – Clean Bandit ★★

If you’re like me, you may recognize Clean Bandit form their catchy 2014 single, “Rather Be.” Their newest release, “I Miss You,” doesn’t live up to the highs of their previous hit. While I wouldn’t mind hearing “I Miss You” on a Clean Bandit Pandora station, I personally would not download it myself.  It’s quite nice in passing as background noise – but that’s about it.

In terms of lyrics, “I Miss You’s” are hardly interesting. After listening to the entire song, all I can remember is the repetitive chorus, and in my opinion, a song is not top notch unless the whole thing gets stuck in my head.

Julia Michaels, the featured vocalist, provides beautiful vocals, however, and the beat in the background of the song does have a good foundation. There are a few things I like about “I Miss You”, but ultimately I have to knock off a couple stars because it just doesn’t live up to my expectations for the artist.

Whole Lotta Woman – Kelly Clarkson ★★★

“Whole Lotta Woman” is an inspiring, empowering addition to Kelly Clarkson’s music catalogue. You might know her from her hit singles,  “Stronger”, “Catch My Breath”, and “Since U Been Gone”.

Clarkson’s music has always been empowering, especially for women, but this song takes it up a level. Clarkson’s sound is much more soul-based than her typical pop, adding passion and grit to the track.

The lyrics are clever and fit together nicely in rhyming fashion. Clarkson even works in some notes about her roots in Texas and her hometown of Tennessee. Overall, I like “Whole Lotta Woman.”  It won’t go down in history like “Stronger” did, but it’s definitely a solid release from Clarkson and is a great continuation of her successful music career.

Shivers – Rachel Platten ★★★★

If you only know Rachel Platten from her hit, “Fight Song,” hearing “Shivers” is a breath of fresh air, with a familiar sound but enough

difference to intrigue listeners. I feel this track, off her new album, “Waves”, will be more long-lasting and danceable than “Fight Song”, as long as it doesn’t get overplayed.

The ethereal background in the verses of “Fight Song” is  not present in “Shivers”, but the song maintains it’s own sassy mood with a constant beat. I love the little side-lyric she adds in after one of the verses (you’ll see what I mean when you listen). The chorus is easy to sing along to, and I enjoy listening to it.

The only reason I can’t rate “Shivers” a full five stars is because it still doesn’t fit my aforementioned “must get the whole thing stuck in your head” rule, but the chorus and the rhythm are so catchy I can’t deny the four stars it deserves.