Skeleton Tree
by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
User Score
8.3

Universal acclaim- based on 387 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 336 out of 387
  2. Mixed: 14 out of 387
  3. Negative: 37 out of 387
Buy Now
Buy on

Review this album

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. EludiumQ36
    Oct 15, 2016
    5
    Look, music from accomplished artists isn't good or bad, it's art, and it's up to you to determine if it resonates with you. "Skeleton Tree" doesn't resonate with me with its dreary, depressing, death march theme. This is a very specific type of genre that will only find favor with those who are in a dark place in their life. I suppose you could put yourself in a dark mood late at night,Look, music from accomplished artists isn't good or bad, it's art, and it's up to you to determine if it resonates with you. "Skeleton Tree" doesn't resonate with me with its dreary, depressing, death march theme. This is a very specific type of genre that will only find favor with those who are in a dark place in their life. I suppose you could put yourself in a dark mood late at night, turn out the lights, lay down, and let this wash over you - you might well cry yourself to sleep. I can appreciate it as art but I wouldn't listen to these tracks again unless I find myself in circumstances befitting its dark, depressive tone.… Expand
  2. WEWMAKER
    Sep 14, 2016
    4
    Skeleton Tree demonstrates the band's excellent lyricism while at the same time containing sloppy mixing, warbly, monotone vocals, unfitting instrumentals, awful sampling and a constant, drab, boring feeling that looms throughout most of the record.
  3. Tom_Bombadil
    Sep 21, 2016
    6
    People will not remember this one a few months from now on, and I think deep down everybody knows that. Nick's musicality is mostly lost at this point and he's forced to rely on production tricks and stuff, which are ultimately unsubstantial and unable to absorb your attention for more than 2 minutes per song. Go listen to "Into my Arms" or "As I Sat Sadly By her Side" if you want refinedPeople will not remember this one a few months from now on, and I think deep down everybody knows that. Nick's musicality is mostly lost at this point and he's forced to rely on production tricks and stuff, which are ultimately unsubstantial and unable to absorb your attention for more than 2 minutes per song. Go listen to "Into my Arms" or "As I Sat Sadly By her Side" if you want refined emotion in Cave's music. This is just awkward self-pity delivered in a barely competent way. Grief itself isn't interesting unless you give reasons for it to be captivating.… Expand
  4. Lomandal
    Feb 6, 2017
    6
    I'm very sorry for your lost, Nick, though. I'm not very moved by your songs, this time. And I do suggest another way of condolence expressing for artists later on instead of new album releasing. It's not pure.
  5. bjacobsen
    Aug 15, 2019
    6
    My first attempt at actually listening to Nick Cave and the Bad seeds. I often hear praise, so I had high expectations. I can say definitely say this record is not for me. What I did find is that there were elements of this band that have me curious about their catalog and I will attempt to find something that may suit me better in their earlier works.
    Standout track - Skeleton Tree - I    My first attempt at actually listening to Nick Cave and the Bad seeds. I often hear praise, so I had high expectations. I can say definitely say this record is not for me. What I did find is that there were elements of this band that have me curious about their catalog and I will attempt to find something that may suit me better in their earlier works.
    Standout track - Skeleton Tree - I felt this was Nick's only attempt at matching his singing to the rhythm. I would have liked the record a lot more if it was full of tracks like this.
    Liked: Instrumentals were always very good. Lots of dreamy pads and piano created a vivid landscape.
    Disliked: Nick's seemingly insistent hesitation to matching timing on many of the tracks. This resulted in an excruciating level of anxiety for me. I am not a huge fan of spoken word, and Nick's voice seems frail and like an old wise man trying to preach to me.    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

1
#1 Best Album of 2016
35
#35 Most Discussed Album of 2016
32
#32 Most Shared Album of 2016

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
95

Universal acclaim - based on 36 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 36 out of 36
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 36
  3. Negative: 0 out of 36
  1. Magnet
    Nov 16, 2016
    90
    No, we haven't heard this Cave before, and though magnetic, emotive and tenderly merciful, one prays for his sake that we never hear it again. [No. 137, p.51]
  2. The Wire
    Nov 8, 2016
    90
    It feels distasteful to rate so powerful, so raw an album in any aesthetic terms and yet it brilliantly, blackly, radiates life. Skeleton Tree is a work of mourning, yes; a work of reverie, yes; and also an immensely moving attempt to reach out of blackness towards life. [Nov 2016, p.65]
  3. Uncut
    Oct 25, 2016
    90
    The songs are pillowed by vaporous electronic backing that recalls the slow-moving, aquatic drift of Push The Sky Away and the sonic explorations of Cave and Ellis' Minimalist Soundtracks. [Dec 2016, p.26]
See all critic reviews »