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 as writer, reviewing recent single releases from a variety of artists.

Let You Love Me – Rita Ora ★★★☆☆

Rita Ora’s newest single “Let You Love Me” brings a light take on the deeper topic of an inability to love. Ora attempts to express her need to show how much she loves someone but ultimately delivers a mediocre tune. Ora sticks with the style of her previous singles, using uplifting melodies and strong beats. The song is good and for the most part fun, despite the melancholy theme of the lyrics. “Let You Love Me” can be enjoyable, but in the end, it just sits being replayed on popular music stations. Ora is trying too hard to make it a mainstream pop song, and with the beat and exocentric vocals, it comes off as exactly that. If the track had stayed true to what it seems to be — a sad love song — it could truly shine through the generic lack of variety out there today.

Feels Right – Alina Baraz   ★★★★☆

Alina Baraz shines bright in her new single “Feels Right” with strong feminine vocals. Baraz brought something beautifully soothing in this soft song about feeling good. “Feels Right” is fun to listen to and pertains an interesting quality of being a slower track that’s still danceable. Being a newer artist can make it hard to break through and find your sound, but Baraz succeeds at creating an upbeat and easy listen for all. “Feels Right” is a perfect feelgood song for the colder weather with a fitting cool, calm melody that can still be played in a more energetic setting.

This Feeling – The Chainsmokers ft. Kelsea Ballerini ★★☆☆☆

The Chainsmokers surprise no one with another repetitive single with their latest “This Feeling.” The song isn’t terrible but it brings nothing new or exciting to The Chainsmokers’ discography, coming off as just another love-themed electronic ballad. “This Feeling” is another song about loving someone you shouldn’t and even though it can be relatable, it is a topic that has been covered by the electronic duo a handful of times already. The feature Kelsea Ballerini brings strong vocals and makes the best of the very mediocre song. In general, “This Feeling”  has a fun beat and good vocals but falls short of anything outstanding.