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.

Lo/Hi – The Black Keys ★★★★★

Having listened to The Black Keys in the past, I was happy to find “Lo/Hi” just as enjoyable as their older music. The latest indie rock song is something I’d listen to on repeat in the car. The Black Keys deliver smooth vocals and backup singers that are just as fun to hear. Not only does the song offer great vocals, but the lyrical topics are interesting and unique, giving off a style that suits the melody. Being a lone rider and living for yourself seems to be the main topic of the song. This single is exactly what I didn’t know I was looking for.

Here With Me – Marshmello ft CHVRCHES ★★☆☆☆

In simple words, “Here With Me” was a huge disappointment. The beat is catchy and will no doubt succeed on popular radio stations, but it fell flat in every other aspect such as vocals, meaning and uniqueness. CHVRCHES’ vocals trigger a memory of sing-along songs in summer camps for me as the lyrics are cliché and predictable. Singing about a deep need for someone is overused in the music industry; this song does a great job at sticking to the status quo. If the goal was to make each verse sound the exact same, they hit the mark.

So Am I – Ava Max ★★★☆☆

As the song “So Am I” opens, I’m immediately hit with the sound of an up-and-coming pop star. Everything about it has something in common with any other overplayed pop song. Ava Max sings about being a misfit and a little crazy, a topic that seems to come naturally to her having just released “Sweet but Psycho.” The song is good, but Max doesn’t bring anything new to the table. One thing that does stand out is how easy it is to dance to, and the words will definitely get stuck in your head. As much as I didn’t like the song, I found myself replaying it a couple of times and starting to hum along.