Stories
by Avicii
  • Record Label: Island
  • Release Date: Oct 2, 2015
User Score
7.3

Generally favorable reviews- based on 70 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 50 out of 70
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 70
  3. Negative: 12 out of 70
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  1. agibbons_96
    Oct 6, 2015
    4
    There's no mistaking the impact that Swedish DJ Avicii (Tim Bergling) has had on the EDM and house genres in recent years. Several of his early hits, namely "Levels", "Silhouettes" and the Nicky Romero-assisted "I Could Be the One", helped cement Avicii's reputation as one of the genre's best and most progressive DJ's of the early 2010's during the genre's revival. Since then, his work hasThere's no mistaking the impact that Swedish DJ Avicii (Tim Bergling) has had on the EDM and house genres in recent years. Several of his early hits, namely "Levels", "Silhouettes" and the Nicky Romero-assisted "I Could Be the One", helped cement Avicii's reputation as one of the genre's best and most progressive DJ's of the early 2010's during the genre's revival. Since then, his work has seen varying degrees of both commercial and critical success, with his debut album, the folk-inspired "True", receiving both positivity and negativity by fans, critics, and fellow artists alike in almost equal measure. "The Days/Nights EP" also divided opinion, with the Robbie Williams-fronted "The Days" coming under scrutiny for sounding too similar to "Hey Brother". "The Nights" however, was regarded as being one of Avicii's best releases to date. Both of these tracks only feature on specific editions of the album, and do not feature on the standard edition. This latest full-length album, "Stories" is only Avicii's second album and is his first since 2013.

    The album itself is a further deviation from the sound of his early releases, incorporating many new elements such as jazz and reggae, as well as leaning towards more organic instrumentation used during EDM's infancy in the 1980's and early 1990's. While most of these endeavours are highly admirable and do contain quite a number of interesting ideas, many don't seem to live up to their potential. One of the few ideas that does seem to work is the jazz-esque piano riff on "For a Better Day", as well as the reggae-influenced acoustic guitar on "Can't Catch Me". More common EDM sounds come in the form of lead single, and album opener "Waiting for Love". "True Believer" also goes in this direction, but has an exceedingly annoying vocoder vocal line. "City Lights" also makes terrible use of vocoders on the vocals, and at six and a half minutes, borders on insufferable by the end of the song. However, the biggest problem with this album without question is the production. Many of the album's fourteen tracks lack any sort of dynamics, despite the different styles explored on the album, and it make most of the album feel bland, for want of a better word. Even with Avicii himself saying he took a more "song-orientated" approach to writing than a club-orientated one, it adds very little to the quality of the album. The songwriting can be called into question also, as "seventy songs" were written during the recording sessions, which leads to a classic case of quantity over quality, and it shows in many places. Unfortunately, the two best songs on this album - "Waiting for Love" and "For a Better Day" were BOTH released as singles. In this regard, "Stories" and "True" do have one major similarly between them - both of these albums best songs have ALL been released as singles.

    Overall, while "Stories" does display greater experimentation than anything that Avicii has released before, for which he must be commended, the very poor vocal performances, the bland production and the lack of dynamics prove that Avicii's unique style and that of EDM in general has one major flaw - there is only so far that EDM, as a whole, can progress. This album then, is more symbolic than just being an experimental project gone wrong - it symbolizes that EDM, while it currently remains hugely successful commercially, is experiencing a huge decline in quality overall. It seems strangely fitting that the man who helped spearhead the genre's revival little over five years ago, should release the album that marks the end of its golden era.

    Album Highlights - "Waiting for Love" and "For a Better Day".    … Expand
  2. asdfwanderer
    Jul 9, 2018
    10
    This album contains songs that are extremely underated such as "City Lights" and "Ten More Days". This album deserves a higher average score.
  3. thedavid
    Jun 22, 2020
    10
    This may be my favourite album of all time, the melodys Avicii created within this album are the most beautiful melodys I've ever heard.
  4. thiagotolotti
    Oct 2, 2015
    5
    Avicii's new album bring a new style to the artist, with slower and more supressed musics, at least "Broken Arrows" remember the album True - of the same artist - with the western vocal.The hit "Waiting for Love" is certainly the best music of the album, but not as good as "The nights", "The days" or " Wake me Up"
  5. WXYZ
    Oct 6, 2015
    5
    Meh, it's okay, I guess. I will admit For A Better Day is quite interesting.
  6. WolfLambert
    Oct 4, 2015
    3
    Stories is basically another bland, formulaic and boring EDM collection. None of the songs really stand out, and everything is trademarked by standard Avicii sounds and chord progressions, which makes the instrumentals very hard to differentiate. It's also too long for a record this repetitive, many deep cuts are rather forgettable.
  7. ratend
    Oct 17, 2015
    10
    Great album, like the way he is moving with his .
  8. dsafronov
    Oct 8, 2015
    10
    This is not just an album, but the grace of musical genres. The album, in which each track is like an amazing story. And don't necessary to compare this album with the past, this is a new stage in the development of Tim, it's new style to the him.
  9. cwilliamhud
    Jan 26, 2016
    10
    The different beat patterns are not all too unique, but the lyrics are generally uplifting, refreshingly meaningful , and positive. Glad to see there are some positive thinking artists in this world. Overall great album.
  10. Grindybord
    Nov 15, 2017
    3
    Mass produced soulless music. Noone will remember Avicii in 30 years. I dont even think he likes his music. I mean if you want to get drunk and dance your feet off then this is your fix i guess.
  11. JhosepKingsley
    Feb 17, 2018
    2
    "Stories" is a fun and dance album but it leaves much to be desired because after having presented "Waiting For Love" we expected a more powerful album and with enough energy. Even so, it is still enjoyable and enjoyable in its own way.
  12. itchipod
    Jun 1, 2016
    6
    Waiting for love, Sunset Jesus, Broken Arrows and City Lights are the only songs I have the stomach to listen too. Other songs made me cringe and I think are just fillers.
  13. mau1
    Dec 3, 2015
    8
    Great album, like the way he is moving with his. The album, in which each track is like an amazing story. And don't necessary to compare this album with the past, this is a new stage in the development of Tim, it's new style to the him. I guess. I will admit For A Better Day is quite interesting.
  14. BlogCritic123
    Jul 5, 2016
    9
    This is another great Dance album. From front to back there's not a single bad track here.
    Songs like Waiting For Love and True Believer are awesome EDM songs.
    The only reason this gets a 9 is because I didn't really care for For A Better Day.
    But the album is awesome nonetheless.
  15. mrdr4gon
    Nov 15, 2017
    8
    Another great foray into pop flavoured EDM from the premier House producer that hits all of the right notes. Some of the more forgettable tracks prevent this from reaching the hights it aspires to.
  16. MrSirGuy
    Jul 1, 2017
    8
    Really a fantastic album. Using the Grand Piano as his weapon of choice, Avicii really knocked it out of the park with this collection. There are a few low points for me in the album that lowered the score a bit. For example Broken Arrows, which seems to be the favorite of many, I found to be repetitive and almost cheesy. It will easily be lost within the next few years and is notReally a fantastic album. Using the Grand Piano as his weapon of choice, Avicii really knocked it out of the park with this collection. There are a few low points for me in the album that lowered the score a bit. For example Broken Arrows, which seems to be the favorite of many, I found to be repetitive and almost cheesy. It will easily be lost within the next few years and is not really that memorable. However, tracks like For A better Day and City Lights bring something new and refreshing to the table. Certainly a style which I hope Avicii returns to with his next project.… Expand
  17. DerekReide
    Jun 8, 2019
    9
    Another awesome Avicii album I constantly have on loop. Star songs are 'Waiting for Love', 'Broken Arrows', and 'For a Better Day'. Amazing music by an amazing person with a huge legacy left behind.
  18. Tsuco
    Jun 19, 2019
    10
    Stories es un álbum divertido y excepcional, con canciones interesantes como waiting for love, city lights o sunset jesus,mezcla varios estilos del house y eso lo hace excelente

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
64

Generally favorable reviews - based on 4 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 4
  3. Negative: 0 out of 4
  1. Boston Globe
    Oct 2, 2015
    70
    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.
    Read full review
  2. Billboard.com
    Oct 2, 2015
    60
    As on True, the nondance tracks are more or less power ballads, albeit with fairly pallid vocals.... The dance tracks are actually where most of this album’s pleasant surprises lie.
    Read full review
  3. Rolling Stone
    Oct 2, 2015
    40
    Too bad Stories brings so little to the EDM conversation.
    Read full review
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