Welcome to “Cut Through the Noise,” an entertainment column for the St. Louis Park Echo covering new music releases. Every week, a different Echo staffer takes on the role of writer, receiving recent single releases from various artists.
“Want You To Want Me” — Yuat ★★★☆☆
As one of Yuat’s 127.5K monthly listeners on Spotify, I was quite excited when his single “Want You To Want Me” was released on April 11. Yuat is a small singer-songwriter who produces indie-pop songs. However, “Want You To Want Me” was somewhat of a letdown. I had previously heard a snippet of the chorus from his posts on Instagram and TikTok, and I had thoroughly enjoyed it. But after listening to the rest of the song, I wasn’t blown away, and overall it felt mediocre. His strong drum beats and guitar strums convey deep sadness as he depicts his unrequited love for a person. This song didn’t stand out in his discography compared to some of the other singles he has already released. I still found it thought-provoking, and it definitely stirred up emotions like most yearning songs do, so it was still added to a couple of my playlists. Anyone who enjoys a good sad song and likes to have relatable music should listen to Yuat.
“Legends (with Lil Baby)” — Quavo & Lil Baby ★★★★☆
Quavo & Lil Baby released their new single, “Legends (with Lil Baby),” and the first time I heard it, the song got immediately added to my pre-game playlist. I’ve been a fan of Quavo for a while now, so I was super excited for this song to drop once I heard a snippet of it off his Instagram, and the full song lived up to the hype. I’m always looking for more music to hype me up before games or practice, and this song did just that. The beat and the blend of both voices was blissful. I don’t consider myself a rap connoisseur, but this song will be on repeat when I indulge in the genre. It’s a perfect song to pump me up and get me in the right headspace, which is exactly what I search for when looking for new rap songs to add to my playlist. Featuring Lil Baby on the track was a genius move. His presence elevates the song, and I genuinely think anyone who enjoys his music or just needs a solid hype track should give “Legends (with Lil Baby)” a listen. It has that perfect mix of motivation and swagger, and I can already tell it will be a staple in my rap mix for a long time.
“There’s A Rhythmn” — Bon Iver ★★☆☆☆
Bon Iver’s new song, “There’s A Rhythmn,” from his album “SABLE, fABLE” wasn’t quite up my alley. As a Bon Iver fanatic, I was initially excited to listen to his new single, but was unpleasantly surprised. When I hit play, I was ready for that familiar blend of ethereal vocals, haunting instrumentals and the raw emotional depth that’s made his past work so powerful. Instead, I was met with a track that felt noticeably different — too different. The song leans heavily into a groovier, almost experimental pop-funk vibe. Additionally, some background harmonies are beautifully sung, but they didn’t evoke any emotional feelings, which I’ve come to expect from his music. I can understand why some listeners might be drawn to it, as the rhythmic catchiness and a textured production style show off his versatility. But it didn’t feel like the Bon Iver I’ve come to know and love. The guitar at the song’s end and the closing notes were calming, which was my favorite part. He sounded different to me for some reason, and I didn’t particularly like it. Still, if you’re a fan of Bon Iver, I suggest checking out his new album and listening to “There’s A Rhythmn” to form your own opinion.
