III (Banks album)

III is the third studio album by American singer and songwriter Banks. It was released on July 12, 2019, by Harvest Records.[2] It was preceded by the release of three singles, "Gimme", "Look What You're Doing To Me", and "Contaminated". The album peaked at number 21 on the Billboard 200.

III
Studio album by
Banks
ReleasedJuly 12, 2019 (2019-07-12)
Studio
GenreGoth-pop[1]
Length47:05
LabelHarvest
Producer
Banks chronology
The Altar
(2016)		 III
(2019)		 Live and Stripped
(2020)
Singles from III
  1. "Gimme"
    Released: April 29, 2019
  2. "Look What You're Doing To Me"
    Released: June 11, 2019
  3. "Contaminated"
    Released: July 10, 2019

Background

Banks revealed the album name along with its release month in an interview with Billboard, published on May 24, 2019. The album was almost titled Eros, but Banks chose the name III to convey the "beginning, middle, and end" of a part of her life.[3] The album cover was revealed on May 30, 2019.[4] She released the track listing on Twitter on June 11. Banks began The III Tour in support of the album in September 2019.[5]

Singles

"Gimme" was released as the album's lead single on April 29, 2019, and debuted on Zane Lowe's Beats 1 radio show.[6] The song was written by Banks and Josiah Sherman and produced by BJ Burton, Hudson Mohawke and Kito.[7][8]

"Look What You're Doing To Me" was released as the album's second single on June 11, 2019, along with a lyric video, and features American pop project Francis and the Lights.[9]

"Contaminated" was released as the album's third single on July 10, 2019. Banks released a sample of the track as well as the release date on July 9, 2019.[10]

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?6.6/10[11]
Metacritic76/100[12]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[13]
Clash8/10[14]
DIY[15]
The Guardian[16]
The Independent[17]
NME[18]
The Observer[19]
Pitchfork6.5/10[20]
Q[21]
Rolling Stone[1]

III received positive reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an average score of 76, based on 11 reviews.[12] Narzra Ahmed of Clash stated "III is definitely a progression for her as an artist. The more upbeat tracks are interspersed among softer, more delicate, heartfelt ones that represent the duality of her personality and also increase its replay value".[14] Rhys Harding of The Line of Best Fit commented, "Overall, Banks has taken a step forward in her development as an artist, and you can hear this increase in maturity across each album. At times, her evolution is not as convincing as other artists on her level, though the quality of the songwriting here generally makes up for that".[22]

From NME, Nick Levine concluded that "III is probably a couple of tracks too long, but Banks has created another supremely intriguing musical world filled with ear-snagging lyrics and quirky production flourishes: the lone dog-bark sound effect before the final chorus of 'Gimme' is a classic Banks touch. It's difficult to avoid the conclusion: 'that bitch' is a pretty apt description for her after all".[18] Will Hermes of Rolling Stone wrote, "Banks clearly encouraged them [her collaborators] to swing for the fences: The distressed sonics get as extreme as Low got on last year's Double Negative, albeit in much different context. It's thrilling, gutting stuff".[1] Roisin O'Connor from The Independent viewed III as "Banks's most cohesive album to date because she's no longer restricting herself to exploring one feeling at a time".[17]

Track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Till Now"
2:36
2."Gimme"
  • Banks
  • Josiah Sherman
3:39
3."Contaminated"
4:41
4."Stroke"
3:26
5."Godless"
  • Banks
  • Campbell
  • Jesse Ward
  • Lewis Tautaiolefua
  • Sean Walker
  • Burton
  • Ward
  • Sohn
3:10
6."Sawzall"
  • Banks
  • Sherman
Buddy Ross3:39
7."Look What You're Doing To Me" (featuring Francis and the Lights)
  • Burton
  • Starlite
4:00
8."Hawaiian Mazes"
4:03
9."Alaska"
  • Banks
  • Sherman
3:07
10."Propaganda"
  • Banks
  • Forbes
  • Anderson
  • Burton
  • Ross
  • Forbes[d]
  • Nathaniel Alford[d]
4:05
11."The Fall"
2:56
12."If We Were Made of Water"
  • Banks
  • Forbes
  • Campbell
3:24
13."What About Love"
4:18
Total length:47:05

Notes

  • ^[a] signifies a main and vocal producer
  • ^[b] signifies an additional producer
  • ^[c] signifies a co-producer
  • ^[d] signifies a vocal producer

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of III.[23]

Musicians
  • Banks – vocals
  • BJ Burton – synthesizers (tracks 1–4, 7, 10, 12); drums (tracks 1, 3, 4, 7, 11, 12); programming (tracks 1, 3, 4, 7, 12); drum programming (tracks 2, 5, 10); arrangement (tracks 2, 11); guitar (tracks 3, 4, 10, 12); piano (track 3); bass (track 4)
  • Sohn – synthesizers (tracks 1, 5, 7); bass (track 1); drums (track 5)
  • Hudson Mohawke – synthesizers, drum programming (track 2); 808 bass; programming (track 11)
  • Mark McGee – programming (track 3)
  • Jake Hanson – guitar (track 3)
  • Ben Lester – pedal steel guitar (tracks 3, 4, 12)
  • Trevor Hagen – trumpet (track 3)
  • Nick Sanborn – synthesizers, bass (track 4)
  • Lazerbeak – programming (track 4)
  • Buddy Ross – keyboards (tracks 6, 9, 13); bass (tracks 6, 9, 10, 13); drums (tracks 6, 8–10, 12); piano (tracks 8, 13); Wurlitzer, strings (track 8); synthesizers (tracks 8, 10, 12); string arrangement (track 13)
  • Jake Luppen – electric guitar (track 6)
  • Chais Kinder – electric guitar (track 6); drums, synthesizer (track 10)
  • Aliyah Hernandez – vocals (track 6)
  • Jami Hernandez – vocals (track 6)
  • Francis Farewell Starlite – vocals, piano, table drums (track 7)
  • Paul Epworth – keyboards, bass (track 8)
  • Aron Forbes – acoustic guitar (track 11)
  • Rob Moose – string arrangements (tracks 11, 12); strings (track 12)
  • Simon Edward Christensen p/k/a Psymun – drum programming (claps), vocal chop/background (track 11)
  • JT Bates – drums (track 12)
  • Georgie Banks Feil – vocals (track 13)
  • Owen Pallett – string arrangement, violin, viola (track 13)
  • Amy Laing – cello (track 13)

Technical
  • BJ Burton – production (tracks 1, 3–5, 7, 10–12); vocal production (tracks 1, 3, 4, 12); engineering (tracks 1–5, 7, 11, 12); additional production (tracks 2, 8); executive production
  • Sohn – additional production (track 1); production (track 5)
  • Hudson Mohawke – production, engineering (track 2); co-production (track 11)
  • Kito – co-production (track 2)
  • Ross Birchard – engineering (track 2)
  • Buddy Ross – engineering (tracks 2, 6, 8–10, 13); production (tracks 6, 8–10, 13); additional production (track 12)
  • Aron Forbes – engineering (tracks 3, 11, 12); vocal production (tracks 3, 4, 9, 10, 12, 13); additional production (track 11)
  • Sam Tusa – engineering assistance (tracks 3, 4, 6, 12, 13)
  • Tim Anderson – vocal production (track 4)
  • Jesse Ward – production (track 5)
  • Tom Kahre – engineering (tracks 5, 9)
  • Nathaniel Alford – engineering (tracks 5, 10); vocal production (track 10)
  • John DeBold – engineering assistance (tracks 6, 13)
  • Francis Farewell Starlite – production (track 7)
  • Paul Epworth – co-production (track 8)
  • Luke Pickering – engineering assistance (track 8)
  • Psymun – co-production (track 11)
  • Jillian Banks – executive production
  • Tom Elmhirst – mixing
  • Brandon Bost – engineering for mix
  • Huntley Miller – mastering (tracks 1–12)
  • Randy Merrill – mastering (track 13)

Artwork
  • J & Associates – artwork
  • Steph Wilson – photography

Charts
Chart (2019) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[24] 25
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[25] 113
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[26] 165
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[27] 7
French Albums (SNEP)[28] 185
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[29] 60
Lithuanian Albums (AGATA)[30] 73
Scottish Albums (OCC)[31] 62
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[32] 41
UK Albums (OCC)[33] 57
US Billboard 200[34] 21
US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard)[35] 3

Tour
III
Tour by Banks
Associated albumIII
Start dateSeptember 3, 2019
End dateJanuary 5, 2020
Legs3
No. of shows20 in North America
10 in Europe
3 in Oceania
33 in total

Setlist
  1. "Till Now"
  2. "Fuck With Myself"
  3. "Stroke"
  4. "Drowning"
  5. "Waiting Game"
  6. "Ode to the Grey Zone"
  7. "Contaminated"
  8. "Hawaiian Mazes"
  9. "Alaska"
  10. "Propaganda"
  11. "Poltergeist"
  12. "Underdog"
  13. "Sawzall"
  14. "If We Were Made Of Water"
  15. "This Is What It Feels Like"
  16. "Godless"
  17. "The Fall"
  18. "Gimme"
  19. "Gemini Feed"
  20. "Beggin For Thread"

Shows
List of concerts showing date, city, country, and venue
Date City Country Venue
Leg 1 – North America
September 3, 2019 Toronto Canada Rebel
September 4, 2019 Montreal MTELUS
September 7, 2019 Brooklyn United States Brooklyn Steel
September 8, 2019
September 11, 2019 Silver Spring The Fillmore Silver Spring
September 13, 2019 Charlotte The Fillmore Charlotte
September 14, 2019 Atlanta Piedmont Park
September 16, 2019 Chicago Riviera Theatre
September 17, 2019 Minneapolis Varsity Theater
September 19, 2019 Denver Fillmore Auditorium
September 21, 2019 Las Vegas Las Vegas Fremont Street
September 24, 2019 Vancouver Canada Orpheum Theatre
September 28, 2019 San Francisco United States Masonic Auditorium
October 1, 2019 Los Angeles Hollywood Palladium
October 3, 2019 Santa Ana The Observatory
October 6, 2019 Austin Zilker Park
October 13, 2019 Historic Scoot Inn
October 16, 2019 New Orleans The Fillmore
October 18, 2019 Lake Buena Vista House of Blues
October 19, 2019 Miami The Fillmore Miami
October 24, 2019 San Francisco Masonic Auditorium
Leg 2 – Europe
November 1, 2019 Manchester United Kingdom O2 Ritz
November 4, 2019 London Roundhouse
November 5, 2019 Birmingham O2 Institute
November 8, 2019 Amsterdam Netherlands Paradiso
November 12, 2019 Stockholm Sweden Berns
November 14, 2019 Berlin Germany Heimathafen
November 15, 2019
November 17, 2019 Cologne Live Music Hall
November 19, 2019 Brussels Belgium Cirque Royal
November 21, 2019 Paris France Le Trianon
Leg 4 – Oceania
December 30, 2019 Marion Bay Australia Falls Music & Arts Festival
January 2, 2020 North Byron Parklands
January 5, 2020 Fremantle Falls Music Festival

Notes
  1. Tracks 1, 2, 4, 5, 9, 10, 11 and 13
  2. Track 2
  3. Tracks 2, 6, 9, 10 and 13
  4. Tracks 3, 4, 6, 9 and 13
  5. Tracks 7 and 11
  6. Track 7
  7. Track 8
  8. Track 12

References
  1. Hermes, Will (July 11, 2019). "Review: Banks Doubles Down On Her Emo Goth-Pop with "III"". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 11, 2019.
  2. "III by Banks on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved June 16, 2019.
  3. Ginsberg, Gab (May 24, 2019). "Banks Was Rising to the Top When She Disappeared. Here's Why". Billboard. Retrieved June 2, 2019.
  4. Banks [@hernameisBANKS] (May 30, 2019). "BANKS on Twitter: '... '" (Tweet). Retrieved June 2, 2019 – via Twitter.
  5. Schatz, Lake (3 June 2019). "Banks Announces "The III Tour" Acros North America | Music News". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 28 June 2019.
  6. Kaufman, Gil (April 29, 2019). "Banks Returns With Dark Banger 'Gimme': Listen". Billboard. Retrieved June 2, 2019.
  7. "Gimme / Banks". Tidal. Retrieved May 29, 2019.
  8. Ilana, Kaplan (April 29, 2019). "Hear Banks' Electrifying New Song 'Gimme' The Altar singer shares first new music since 2017". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 2, 2019.
  9. Banks [@hernameisBANKS] (June 8, 2019). "6.11.19" (Tweet). Retrieved June 9, 2019 – via Twitter.
  10. Banks [@hernameisBANKS] (July 9, 2019). "Contaminated. Tomorrow" (Tweet). Retrieved July 9, 2019 – via Twitter.
  11. "III by Banks reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved September 13, 2019.
  12. "III by Banks Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved July 17, 2019.
  13. Yeung, Neil Z. "III – Banks". AllMusic. Retrieved July 11, 2019.
  14. Ahmed, Narzra (July 8, 2019). "BANKS – III". Clash. Retrieved July 9, 2019.
  15. Taylor, Chris (July 12, 2019). "Album Review: Banks – III". DIY. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
  16. Cliff, Aimee (July 12, 2019). "Banks: III review – a break from dark R&B doesn't quite pay off". The Guardian. Retrieved July 21, 2019.
  17. O'Connor, Roisin (July 11, 2019). "Album reviews: Banks – III and Ida Mae – Chasing Lights". The Independent. Retrieved July 11, 2019.
  18. Levine, Nick (July 9, 2019). "Banks – 'iii' review". NME. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
  19. Morris, Damien (July 14, 2019). "Banks: III review – her best album yet". The Observer. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
  20. Yoo, Noah (July 17, 2019). "Banks: III". Pitchfork. Retrieved July 17, 2019.
  21. Aroesti, Rachel (August 2019). "Banks: III". Q. No. 401. p. 108. ISSN 0955-4955.
  22. Harding, Rhys (July 9, 2019). "The new album from Banks is the sound of an artist on the cusp of superstardom". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved July 9, 2019.
  23. III (liner notes). Banks. Harvest Records. 2019. 2577842412.CS1 maint: others (link)
  24. "Australiancharts.com – Banks – III". Hung Medien. Retrieved December 4, 2019.
  25. "Ultratop.be – Banks – III" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved July 19, 2019.
  26. "Ultratop.be – Banks – III" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved July 19, 2019.
  27. "Banks Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
  28. "Lescharts.com – Banks – III". Hung Medien. Retrieved December 4, 2019.
  29. "Offiziellecharts.de – Banks – III" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved July 19, 2019.
  30. "Savaitės klausomiausi (TOP 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. July 22, 2019. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
  31. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 20, 2019.
  32. "Swisscharts.com – Banks – III". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 24, 2019.
  33. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 20, 2019.
  34. "Banks Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
  35. "Banks Chart History (Top Alternative Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved December 4, 2019.
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