Intense

EDM took on a new shape in the early '10s: Hooks sharpened, colors brightened, and the main stages got bigger and bigger. Armin van Buuren’s 2013 album is a lesson in super-sizing without sacrificing intimacy: Synth riffs rain down like honey-dipped lightning bolts and snares are loud as thunderclaps, yet the vocal turns on songs like “Beautiful Life” and “Alone” impart an emotional depth that makes every drop feel like it’s custom-made for the best night of your life. Building on his previous forays into pop-dance crossover, this is where the Dutch trance veteran perfects the fusion.