| Skeleton Jar | |
| Type: | Album |
| Artist: | Youth Group |
| Cover: | Skeleton jar youth group.jpg |
| Released: | 22 March 2004 (Australia) 24 May 2005 (US) |
| Studio: | Velvet Studios, Big Jesus Burger Studios, Razor's Edge Studios, Tiger Studios |
| Genre: | Indie rock, alternative rock |
| Length: | 41:21 |
| Label: | Ivy League Records Epitaph Records |
| Producer: | Wayne Connolly |
| Prev Title: | Urban & Eastern |
| Prev Year: | 2001 |
| Next Title: | Casino Twilight Dogs |
| Next Year: | 2006 |
Skeleton Jar is the second album by Australian rock band Youth Group. It was first released in Australia on 22 March 2004, and on 24 May 2005 on Epitaph Records in the United States with a re-arranged track listing and one new song. The US version was released in Australia as a "repackaged" album in July 2004. In 2011 the album was voted #98 on Australian radio station Triple J's Hottest 100 Australian Albums of All Time (Industry List).[1]
The album marked a transition point for the band, whose lineup had been stable for the first six years. Over the course of the recording sessions, bassist Andy Cassell and guitarist Paul Murphy quit, to be replaced by Patrick Matthews and Cameron Ellison–Elliott respectively, while Johnno Lattin also played bass on some tracks after Cassell's departure. "All of a sudden everything's gone kind of haywire," songwriter and singer-guitarist Toby Martin said.[2] [3]
Martin said the album added a strong folk flavour to the band's rock roots. He told the Herald Sun: "I've definitely been listening to more older stuff in the time leading up to recording this record—like Dylan and the Velvet Underground. I really like country and folk music, so I think it's always going to come through. Maybe this time it's come through in a more authentic way, rather than playing with a genre, just playing it because we like it. I think the guitar-picking stuff on this record mostly comes from Bob Dylan or Nick Drake and that sort of stuff, more folk kind of things."[2]
Music videos were produced for the singles "Skeleton Jar," "Shadowland" and "Baby Body."
All songs by Youth Group.