3 (Tricot album)

3 is the third studio album by Japanese math rock band Tricot. It was released on May 17, 2017 in Japan by the band's own label Bakuretsu Records. The album was released on the same day by Big Scary Monsters Recording Company in the United Kingdom and by Topshelf Records in the United States.

Critical reception
Patrick St. Michel of The Japan Times wrote that 3 showcases Tricot's "ability to strike a balance between complex instrumentation and sudden emotional flourishes." Phil Witmerwrote of Vice opined that "what makes 3 and the rest of Tricot's music transcend the 'experimental' label is a transparent, pop-derived emotional core", while noting 3 to be the band's "heaviest, most challenging album". Chris DeVille of Stereogum described the album's music as "intricate and noodly" but played with "a frantic energy and melodic directness worthy of the Bangles."

AllMusic critic John D. Buchanan found that Tricot, while not innovative, are nonetheless "very good, and in a crowded marketplace they do manage to bring something unique to the table", citing their ability to "infuse their challenging avant-rock with a real pop sensibility".

Personnel
Credits are adapted from the album's liner notes.

Tricot
 * Motoko "Motifour" Kida – guitar, backing vocals
 * Ikkyu Nakajima – vocals, guitar
 * Hiromi "Hirohiro" Sagane – bass, backing vocals

Additional musicians
 * Yuma Abe – drums (track 12)
 * Kosuke Wakiyama – drums (track 7)
 * Yusuke Yoshida – drums (tracks 1–6, 8–11, 13)

Production
 * Masayuki Nakano – recording, mixing
 * Akihiro Shiba – mastering

Design
 * Hikaru Cho – cover artwork