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

“Wish You The Best” — Lewis Capaldi ★★☆☆☆

Lewis Capaldi’s latest song, “Wish You The Best,” is one of the first releases of his next album, “Broken By Desire To Be Heavenly Sent,” that is going to be fully released May 19. Starting out with the sound of a piano, which sets the tone of sorrow and regret, Capaldi sings of what he has lost, and reflects on the feelings of being left behind. This is a passionate song of realization that, as much as it hurts, sometimes people are happier without you. The way the lyrics are written give the listener the impression that he is doing a favor for the subject of the song. Personally, I think this gives him a false sense of achievement. Clearly they are broken up, he needs to move on. Overall, the song felt very repetitive and melodramatic. Capaldi spends nearly four minutes yelling at an unnamed person. He is contriving passion in a way that leaves the listener unsatisfied. He certainly has a style, but frankly, it’s getting boring. The world can only hear the same song formula so many times.

“Me” — Kelly Clarkson ★★★☆☆

Kelly Clarkson’s sneak peek of her newest album “Chemistry” is soulful and inspiring. The song starts with Clarkson’s quiet voice reflecting on what she has put up with in her past relationships. The song takes some time to get into, considering how slow the beginning is. About a minute into the song, she reaches her full volume. The lyrics are simple and catchy — easy to sing along to. The general theme of the song is about balance. A relationship needs both independence and dependence. She speaks of a person that clipped her wings and took away her independence in order for them to feel secure in the relationship. “Chemistry” is a fitting name for this album. This song reflects on the highs and lows of chemistry. This song is an important reminder for everyone that sometimes, the highs aren’t worth the lows. It can be easy for people, especially teenagers, to feel like they need to be in a relationship. As a result, red flags are often missed. Clarkson’s words are something to keep in mind — you are just as capable with or without a significant other. 

“Chemical” — Post Malone  ★★★★★

Post Malone’s latest single “Chemical” is addicting. With a catchy beat and lyrics that tug at your heartstrings, “Chemical” is sure to be a hit. Malone sings about a toxic relationship that leaves him stuck. Oxytocin, or “the love drug,” hits him making him forget the red flags in the moment, but once the high wears off he knows it’s not healthy. With a more upbeat tempo, it can be easy to misunderstand the true meaning behind the lyrics. There is a lot of pain and heartbreak masked behind a catchy beat. Malone disguises the signs of a toxic and damaging relationship that he can’t seem to escape. Nevertheless, he cleverly masks the heaviness with a tune that you’ll never get out of your head. This single could potentially be a sign of Malone venturing away from his familiar rap style and into new pop territory, a direction that suits him well. If this is the type of music Post Malone has in store for us, the future looks bright.