The key to III's success is that Take That don't push these electronic elements too hard; they're there not to bring in a younger audience, but to show that the group knows it's 2014, not 1994, so it winds up feeling reflective and tasteful, a record that feels more realized than any latter-day Robbie-less Take That album.
Take That were never meant to be a trio: III overstays its welcome and runs out of ideas.
Besides losing two members, on III Take That have sadly also mislaid the re-energised sense of new direction that marked 2010's Progress.
Despite juicy producers such as Stuart Price and Greg Kurstin, III struggles.
In one sense, the band have helped save time for us reviewers unable to access III in advance- the title handily doubles as the score out of ten.
Gary Barlow slop machine
Album Name: III
Album Artist: Take that
Favourite Song: These Days
Least Favourite Song: Portrait
Enjoyment Rating: 4/10
Album Rating: 3.9/10
| 1 | These Days 3:51 | 74 |
| 2 | Let in the Sun 3:39 | |
| 3 | If You Want It 4:02 | |
| 4 | Lovelife 3:35 | |
| 5 | Portrait 3:34 | |
| 6 | Higher than Higher 4:06 | |
| 7 | I Like It 4:22 | 76 |
| 8 | Give You My Love 2:49 | |
| 9 | Freeze 4:01 | |
| 10 | Into the Wild 3:52 | |
| 11 | Flaws 3:33 | |
| 12 | Get Ready for It 3:39 | 67 |