It’s been a little over 5 months since Avicii died. Artists are still constantly dedicating moments or entire sets to his honor, and his influence – and absence – are still both felt every day. Today, especially, could be rough on fans, as it marks three years since his final album, Stories, was released.
It’s hard not to look back at albums after an artist’s death and not interpret them differently. The most salient recent example would be Linkin Park’s Chester Bennington, whose lyrics often references feelings of inadequacy and not belonging. However, these musical moments are snapshots of an artist’s life at that time, and for that reason, should not be seen as foreshadowing, but beautiful reminders of their influence.
Avicii revolutionized music in ways that are still being examined. His Ultra 2013 performance was widely criticized and panned, but six months later he released True and started on a path that many would try to emulate. 
Two years later, he released Stories, which, while it didn’t have massive hits like “Wake Me Up” and “Hey Brother,” contained big tracks of its own like “For A Better Day” and “Waiting For Love.”
In honor of the album’s third anniversary and Avicii’s memory, listen to Stories again below.
Photo via Rukes.com
