Avicii is finally back! We’re delighted and surprised by the decision to infuse his brand of EDM with elements of other genres in his new album, Stories. Check out which tracks we especially loved, and why we think the album reads like a book of cleverly curated and relatable short stories. Also, find out how to win Avicii merch as well as a copy of his latest album at the end of this post!
WAITING FOR LOVE
The first track off the Stories album, ‘Waiting for Love’ has stuck true to what Avicii’s works have been known for – soaring vocals, atmospheric synths and country elements. We liked how Cherry Ghost’s Simon Aldred added to the running theme of all-consuming love and devotion, as well as the track’s music video, where it emphasised the ‘nothing matters but love’ message. Our favourite scene was where the grandpa rode his motorised chair cross-country to find his missing wife – it reminded us of Forrest Gump – especially when he was faster than a running ostrich. Amazing.
TEN MORE DAYS
If Avicii wanted to showcase this new musical breadth he has acquired, this track is the best way to do it. The fact that ‘Ten More Days’ starts off with an 8-second uninterrupted lilt of the acoustic guitar had us rechecking that we were really listening to Avicii. Zak Abel’s soulful, raspy vocals jolts you with hopeful pensiveness that yes, while he’s still “ten more days under water”, it’s only “ten more days till it’s over”. The lyrics speak to us about personal struggles in life and we can totally relate. We’ve seen how some feel that this track was an awkward addition to the whole album and even dared say it was boring (how could they?) but hey, haters gonna hate!
FOR A BETTER DAY
‘For a Better Day’ was one of two songs released with the pre-order of the Stories album and as spoiled for choice as we were, this is our absolute fave. The song starts off with the mellow pipings of the piano carrying Alex Ebert’s needling vocals, and then drops into a hook that splashes out like a celebration after a dirty, drawn-out, drag-through-the-mud kind of struggle. It sounds like an anthem for the freedom seeker, and its controversial video, (which Avicii co-directed), certainly seem to echo that. A bit of warning, though – if you’re triggered by uncomfortable themes like death, violence and child trafficking, we suggest you give the music video a miss. We applaud him for using his music and creative freedom to spread awareness and engage discussion on issues he’s passionate about.
TRUE BELIEVER
You’d know right off the bat that ‘True Believer’ is one of the more electronic-focused tracks on the album, with the house instrumental at its very beginning. Listeners who have been with Avicii since he started would appreciate this assurance that Avicii hasn’t abandoned electronic music for more mainstream pop-driven success. We like the energy he put into this and how this leans more into the purer EDM, less pop territory. Of course, having Coldplay frontman Chris Martin collaborate was also something else we love about this track, although we feel that Martin’s signature range and emotive vocals weren’t utilised quite as it should have been.
PURE GRINDING
We’re actually surprised we like this as much as we do! ‘Pure Grinding’ is a domain where Avicii has never ventured into but we like this new direction. While the soul infusion is strong, it doesn’t overwhelm Avicii’s signature sound and blends in as a seamless track that propels into new territory while staying grounded in his established identity. Avicii himself said he was able to explore new sounds on this album and we like how nicely and successfully this is manifested in ‘Pure Grinding’. Like “For a Better Day”, this track was a single released prior to the release of the album. And similarly, this track comes with a brilliant video. We don’t want this to sound like a commentary on social issues in the West, so we’re going to let you check it out for yourself and decide what Avicii is trying to achieve with this video. Enjoy!
It’s time to let us know what you think – did you love his album like we did? Comment below with your thoughts. Also, win exclusive Avicii merchandise, plus a copy of Stories! Click here to find out how.
