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.

‘Sleepy Hollow’ – Trippie Redd ★★★☆☆

Trippie Redd’s new release “Sleepy Hollow” put me in the Halloween mood immediately. This song was really similar to most of his other music, which I expected. The single has the same upbeat tempo and steady vocals, which makes it recognizable. I looked forward to the song because I thought it would be loosely based on the 1990s classic film of the same name directed by Tim Burton, which is one of my favorite movies. Sadly, it didn’t seem like it was, which was a very big missed opportunity. The song also only lasted for a minute and 30 seconds, which was a let down. 

‘Self Crucify’ – Bea Miller ★★★★★

Bea Miller never ceases to amaze me. Her newest album, “Elated!,” featured ¨Self Crucify,¨ a song that makes me feel like I am at home no matter where I am. The track is heartwarming and its message is about realizing your self worth, which is super important. The piano accompaniment meshes perfectly with her vocals, and the progression of the song tells a story in an efficient way. The beginning of the song is slow. After the first few minutes of a choir singing, it drives home the feeling when you finally find your self-worth. The last 30 seconds of the song make you feel like you’re wrapped in a blanket of warmth. 

‘Positions’ – Ariana Grande ★☆☆☆☆

After following Ariana Grande’s Instagram and liking her posts for her new album release, I was so excited to review her new single “Positions,” which was a prelude to the newly released album. Sadly, the song did not meet my expectations. After the release of her last album ¨Thank u next,¨, my expectations were high and the new song really disappointed me.  Grande overuses bland lyrics in this song way too many times, which is so frustrating. The song lacks so much creativity that it’s painful to listen to. The only savior of this song is its unique beat and its classic Grande whistle tones and riffs. While the song was disappointing, I’m still hopeful that the album will pull through and hopefully carry the album to success.