3WW

{{Infobox song

| name = 3WW

| cover = 3WW alt-J.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Alt-J

| album = Relaxer

| released = 6 March 2017

| recorded =

| studio =

| venue =

| genre = {{hlist|Folktronica|art pop}}

| length = 5:00

| label = {{hlist|Infectious|Atlantic}}

| writer = {{hlist|Joe Newman|Gus Unger-Hamilton|Thom Sonny Green}}

| producer = Charlie Andrew

| prev_title = Every Other Freckle

| prev_year = 2014

| next_title = In Cold Blood

| next_year = 2017

}}

"3WW" is a song by British indie rock band Alt-J. It is the opening track and first single from their third studio album, Relaxer, and was released as a digital single on 6 March 2017 by Infectious Music and Atlantic Records.{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/news/72027-alt-j-announce-new-album-relaxer-share-new-song-3ww-listen/ |title=Alt-J Announce New Album Relaxer, Share New Song "3WW": Listen |publisher=Pitchfork |first=Sheldon |last=Pearce |date=6 March 2017 |access-date=3 June 2017}} The song was written by Joe Newman, Gus Unger-Hamilton, Thom Sonny Green and produced by Charlie Andrew. It features guest vocals from British musician Ellie Rowsell of Wolf Alice. The song's title is an abbreviation of "three worn words", a phrase which is sung in the song.{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/allsongs/2017/03/06/518768877/alt-j-new-song-3ww-points-towards-a-smoothed-out-sound |title=Alt-J's New Song '3WW' Points Toward A Smoothed-Out Sound |publisher=NPR |work=All Songs Considered |first=Bob |last=Boilen |date=6 March 2017 |access-date=3 June 2017}}

Composition and lyrics

In an interview with NPR, the band said:{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/allsongs/2017/06/02/530936221/alt-js-relaxer-track-by-track |title=alt-J's 'Relaxer,' Track By Track |publisher=NPR |first=Bob |last=Boilen |date=2 June 2017 |access-date=5 October 2017}}

{{cquote|The first song, '3WW,' traces the adventures of a wayward lad during a night on England's northeast coast, culminating in the whispering of 'three worn words.' The chorus refers to the statue of Shakespeare's Juliet at the Casa di Giulietta in Verona, which has been damaged by excessive rubbing by the hands of visitors eager for good luck in love.}}

Music video

File:ViewRealdeCatorce.JPG

A music video was released a month after the song's release on 13 April 2017. It was directed by Alex Takacs (aka Young Replicant), who had previously directed videos for Lorde and Flying Lotus, and was produced by Pulse Films. The video, shot in black and white, depicts a funeral procession in the mountains of Mexico following the death of a young woman. The people of the town carry the coffin until the sun sets, upon which a man—the deceased woman's lover―is left alone in the mountains with a donkey to carry her coffin. The young man faces harsh weather and a violent encounter with a dog. The coffin is seen opened and the young woman pulls the young man's body away. She is later seen holding coins to the man's eyes, which were placed upon her own before the closing of her coffin, referencing Charon's obol and an old Catholic tradition symbolizing the young man's death.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwBkXgWNs_M |title=alt-J - 3WW (Official Video) |website=YouTube |date=13 April 2017 |access-date=3 June 2017}}{{cite web |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/watch-alt-js-cryptic-new-3ww-video-w476519 |title=Watch Alt-J's Cryptic New '3WW' Video |publisher=Rolling Stone |first=Jon |last=Blistein |date=13 April 2017 |access-date=3 June 2017 |archive-date=23 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170523161147/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/watch-alt-js-cryptic-new-3ww-video-w476519 |url-status=dead }} The video was filmed in Real de Catorce, Mexico.{{cite web|url=http://www.thecurrent.org/feature/2017/04/13/watch-video-for-altjs-new-song-3ww |title=Watch the new video for alt-J's song, '3WW' |publisher=The Current |first=Luke |last=Taylor |date=13 April 2017 |access-date=3 June 2017}} To prepare for the video's production, frontman Joe Newman sent the song to director Alex Takacs alongside a poem by English poet Ted Hughes. Takacs was inspired to film in Real de Catorce by mountain imagery in the photography of Mexican writer Juan Rulfo and Mexican cinematographer Gabriel Figueroa. The actors cast in the video were from Mexico City and also Real de Catorce.{{cite web|url=http://www.onepointfour.co/2017/05/11/poetic-power/ |title=Poetic power |publisher=OnePointFour |date=11 May 2017 |access-date=3 June 2017}}

Performances

On 19 May 2017, Alt-J performed "3WW" on the sixth episode of the fiftieth series of Later... with Jools Holland. The band was accompanied by Ellie Rowsell, who sung the guest vocals on the song's studio recording.{{Cite episode |title=Episode 6 |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08rb8qk |access-date=3 June 2017 |series=Later... with Jools Holland |network=BBC Two |date=19 May 2017 |series-no=50 |number=6}}

Critical reception

"3WW" received very favorable reviews from contemporary music critics. Daniel Kreps of Rolling Stone praised the song, calling it a "dexterous" track that "showcases how much Alt-J has matured musically since their debut five years ago and their ability to go platinum despite their non-traditional song structures."{{cite web|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/alt-j-announce-new-lp-relaxer-drop-first-single-3ww-w470433 |title=Alt-J Announce New LP 'Relaxer,' Release Dexterous First Song '3WW' |publisher=Rolling Stone |first=Daniel |last=Kreps |date=6 March 2017 |access-date=3 June 2017}} Christopher Hooton of The Independent gave "3WW" five out of five stars, calling the song "their most sensual yet."{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/alt-j-new-song-3ww-single-listen-stream-track-review-a-shamanic-and-deeply-sexual-song-a7613446.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170306184128/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/alt-j-new-song-3ww-single-listen-stream-track-review-a-shamanic-and-deeply-sexual-song-a7613446.html |archive-date=2017-03-06 |url-access=limited |url-status=live |title=Alt-J new song 3WW review: A shamanic and deeply sexual song |work=The Independent |first=Christopher |last=Hooton |date=6 March 2017 |access-date=3 June 2017}} Alex Young of Consequence of Sound called it "an enthralling track that begins as a dreamy guitar instrumental and slowly builds to a loud, vibrant crescendo."{{cite web|url=https://consequenceofsound.net/2017/03/alt-j-premiere-new-single-3ww-listen/ |title=Alt-J premiere new single "3WW" — listen |publisher=Consequence of Sound |first=Alex |last=Young |date=6 March 2017 |access-date=3 June 2017}}

Track listing

{{Track listing

| headline = Digital download

| title1 = 3WW

| length1 = 5:00

}}

Personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal{{cite web|url=https://listen.tidal.com/track/70786087 |title=TIDAL |website=Listen.tidal.com |date=6 March 2017 |access-date=3 June 2017}}