Avicii Tells ‘Stories’ With His New Album Release

The Swedish DJ and producer Avicii has been filling arenas with his big-tent take on house music since his start in 2007. It has been two and a half years since Avicii shocked the world at Ultra Music Festival when he brought out a harmonica and a banjo on the main stage. He quickly turned the world on to his brand of country-infused EDM that took over the radio with hits like “Wake Me Up” and “Hey Brother” from the Swedish producer’s debut album True released later that year.

Now he is back with his sophomore effort Stories and there is more of what he started on True, but growth into more genres. There is a little bit of everything in this album. Some EDM bangers, almost straight up country tracks, disco and even reggae.

“Stories” continues the trend of Avicii laying down beats while others take on vocals; an often-potent collection of genre-hopping tunes whose singers come both from within the dance world and outside it. Coldplay’s Chris Martin provides vocals and piano on the pulsing “True Believer,” giving the swirling track just enough oomph to be readily mistaken for a remixed tune by his band. Zac Brown’s grizzled contribution to the hyperactive “Broken Arrows” might just give him his first taste of the top-40 life. Brown reciprocated the admiration when he told Country Weekly, “Avicii has an incredible mixture of organic and electronic music together.” “Stories” drags a bit at the end, the low point being a reggae-lite track starring former Fugee Wyclef Jean and the fusion-minded Matisyahu, but when it hits, it hits big.

A lot of reviews about Avicii’s new album online don’t have good things to say. All artists experiment with their strengths and weaknesses, and I think that just because this album is far different than some of his previous work doesn’t make it necessarily bad. Take a listen and see for yourself what you think!