Trying a new style, Swedish DJ Avicii's latest album Stories is diverse and alive. This release is another crowd-pleaser that belongs more on mainstream radio than in clubs, fixing everything iffy about his previous album, True.
The country-pop that proved so successful in Wake Me Up is back in Broken Arrows. Zac Brown Band's lead singer appears on vocals, and really goes wild, with Avicii pumping up the music during the bridge. Touch Me harks back to the disco era, and the strange City Lights is spot-on with the melody taking a backseat to the EDM aspects.
Waiting For Love is definitely the stand-out track, as it merges beautiful lyrics with slick, electro mainstream pop. Somewhere in Stockholm is also a gem, with smooth lyrics and a toned-down beat. There are low points, though, such as the reggae-light track Can't Catch Me, and the erratic beat of For a Better Day.
But overall, by diversifying and mixing other genres with EDM, Stories is a very enjoyable listen.