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Recording for the album began in January 2014, with Gary Barlow, Howard Donald, and Mark Owen entering the studio as a trio, with the consent of Jason Orange, who was undecided at the time whether or not he wished to continue with the band. Barlow claims that the album was recorded with "a big space" for Orange, as they had hoped he would change his mind and return to the band. At the time, Robbie Williams had stated that he may not be able to record as part of the group due to his tour commitments and the upcoming birth of his second child. In the end, Williams was not present during the recording sessions.
In September 2014, Orange officially announced his departure from the band, and the band re-entered the studio to record the remaining parts that had been left for Orange. Donald claimed that the band did consider splitting up following Orange's departure, but decided against this and instead pressed on with recording the album. Owen said of the album, "It was quite downbeat, and we needed to change it to bring more energy to it. Then around May the three of us locked ourselves down for two or three weeks and started to play with sounds and for me, that’s when we started for real. The energy was more positive. Now it's one of our most upbeat records." Barlow also said of the album, "We’re not writing a retirement record."
"These Days", the album's lead single, was co-written by Jamie Norton and Ben Mark, and produced by Greg Kurstin (Katy Perry, Kylie Minogue, Lily Allen). The song is described as a signature Kurstin song, featuring "Chic-style funk guitar riffs and Pet Shop Boys style vocal effects." as well as "having pure pop written all over it". "Let in the Sun" is described as the likely second single from the album and a mix between Calvin Harris and Mumford & Sons. The song was produced by Stuart Price. Barlow described the song as a "homage to the early years", whilst Owen said it's "the song your dad would write if he was trying to get down with the kids."
"If You Want It" is described as a "90s sounding pop banger with big production and an uplifting chorus", again produced by Kurstin. A line in the song, "Everything could be a little bit brighter", is suggested to be a nod to the band's recent struggles. Barlow said that a video for the song could be reminiscent of the early years of DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince. "Get Ready for It" was written for the soundtrack of the forthcoming Brit flick Kingsman: The Secret Service, starring Colin Firth and Michael Caine. The song was produced by John Shanks and is described as "loud" "euphoric" and "unmistakably Take That", with a heavy drum introduction, and a battle cry from Barlow. Early reviews suggest the song could match the success of the band's 2007 single, "Rule the World". The album also features production from Jeff Lynne.
User Album Review
Upon its release, III received a mixed response from music critics. The Evening Herald awarded the album 4.5 stars out of 5 commenting that "for just three guys, Take That creates an epic sound. Pure pop, English-style." The Herald continued by stating that "despite 4 years since their last album release, "Take That seem destined to ride the changes with a relentless feel-good optimism that defies personal catastrophe and natural disaster. Take That's mission is to write a big chorus and then nail it in the studio. And that's what they do, repeatedly, on III and they have fun doing it. The golden age of Glam Rock is reprised on the thumping I Like It. And they go all philosophical on Lovelife, chorusing to a clattering Hi-NRG Eurobeat, "If I die before I wake up, ask myself: Did I give enough love?" The Herald concluded, calling "December a sensational super-sizzler for millions of fans of the remodeled Take That."
The Daily Telegraph awarded the album 3 stars out of 5, branding it "the usual sleek, crowd-pleasing pop, giving fans what they want; upbeat, anthemic, singalong pop with generically uplifting lyrics about the triumph of love, the power of friendship and the rewards of loyalty." The Telegraph described the "first single, These Days, [as setting] the stall out, with its nostalgic plea to "take me back", evoking the up-tempo disco delights of Take That's Nineties boy band origins given a dense, contemporary pop gloss, everything thickly harmonized and punchily compressed. Epic mid-tempo ballad Freeze might be construed as a comment on the departure of Mr. Orange, with Gary Barlow pleading "Just freeze so that we don't have to start again". It concluded by stating that the album's "intentions are straightforward, to entertain, make fans happy and keep the show on the road and it surely delivers on all counts."
Metro praised III, giving it 4/5 and dubbing it an "irresistible tinsel-draped Christmas party starter". The review also noted highlights of the album such as "the opening lines of Portrait, delivered with a soaring melodic irresolution" and said that "there's classic Barlow-style balladry in Flaws" and praised the inclusion of Greg Kurstin as producer, saying that he adds "a sheen of contemporary production smarts [to the album]". Music Matters commented that the departure of Orange is a loss, but noted that Barlow, Owen, and Donald "crafted an album that pulls off the post-reunion TT's favorite trick-sounding utterly contemporary, yet somehow intrinsically Take That-y". The review summarised by saying that "they still knock out killer choruses" and "Take That's future may no longer be Orange, but it's still bright".
AllMusic gave the album 3.5 stars and said that the trio "retain a shade of the stylish sensibilities of Progress", and that the album "is livelier" than Barlow's solo work. Yet the album is modern, "reflective and tasteful".
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