Skeleton Jar

Youth Group

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 24, 2005)
• Original Release Date: May 24, 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Epitaph / Ada
• ASIN: B0008FPITK
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #171,638 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Sporting a hearty endorsement from emo-rock hero Chris Walla, the debut record from Australia’s Youth Group is extremely easy to like. It’s sunny and sad like all good emo, as lead singer/songwriter Toby Martin’s melodies float around in a hazy kind of heartache. Sounding a bit (as you might expect) like Death Cab For Cutie, with a side of early James and a dash of Coldplay, Skeleton Jar isn’t perfect; there’s a sameness of structure and tempo, and you get the sense Walla shaved off one too many rough edges in the studio. Still, Martin writes with warmth and intelligence, and the band is limber enough to tackle a range of textures and emotions, dealing equally well with quick, bright choruses ("Shadowland") and more extended dramas (the lovely "See-Saw"). A promising release. – Matthew Cooke

Product Description

Youth Group are at the forefront of an exciting new era in Australian alternative music. They have the pop of The Posies, the articulate desire of The Red House Painters and Death Cab For Cutie, the rock of The Pixies, and the angst of Bright Eyes. "Skeleton Jar" is the band's second album and the first to be released in the US. Left field, yet highly emotive lyrics navigate their way across varied landscapes of pop, folk, and indie rock terrain. The beauty of this album is that every note is well-placed, every strum thought through, economic in the precision of the pop-coated anger. If the darkened cover and alienated art work don't tip you early, this is a dark album. Tightened, taut even, Toby Martin's unmistakably melancholic voice remains pure and potent throughout.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best album of 2005 so far, June 25, 2005

By	M. T. J. ANDERTON "Believe What you Want To B... (UK) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I'm so glad other people are picking up on this wonderful 2nd album by Youth Group - it has been documented that the band have had plenty of internal problems and changes the good news is that this does not in anyway detract or impede their music.

Perhaps this album will sit better with Americans than Brits - simply because our market is filled with vapid 'tunes' like Crazy Frog and you Americans still have some taste in music. Youth Group takes me back to a time in the early-to-mid 1990's where there was some wonderful music made both sides of the Atlantic.

It has also been suggested that Youth Group sound like the wonderful late and lamented British band James mainly due to the singer Toby Martin's vocals and melancholic lyrics - although there are a couple of songs here that would fit on a James album - perhaps Skeleton Jar and Someone Else's Dream would?

I can also hear The Charlatans in there on 'The Franksten Line' and See-Saw both fairly epic sounding songs especially the latter. Fans of Coldplay and Death Cabs for Cutie should check this album out - but any fans of folk/indie/rock would like this.

Other reviews criticse the generalistic sound this album has - although I would argue that this means the album has a more 'complete' feel. I think the magic wears off slightly after See-Saw but it is marginal.

My favourite songs are Shadowlands - the best one word chorus sing James 'Crash' or 'Come Home' with some chimy guitars slightly reminiscent of U2 - the music is more sparse however and the arrangement is lovely and less dense than some of U2's latest works. I also have to say that 'Lilian lies' has a quality of that missed New Zealand band Crowded House - so it isnt hard to see how many people would like this record.

It flirts from folk to indie to rock almost seamlessly without ever being too hard or abrasive or too soft - the pitch is about right. i think Toby Martin is probably the best vocalist I've heard since Tim Booth of James dealing with high and low notes equally well. Perhaps they lack the soaring quality of James songs and a little less commercial than say She's A Star or Laid.

My advice is go and buy this brilliant record and spread the word and let's hope they can sort out any line-up problems they are currently experiencing.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A very good indie rock album by these Australians! Indie rock fans will probably like it a lot! - 4.5 stars, January 5, 2006

By	C. Cross - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The Australian indie rock band Youth Group definitely made a great album with this year's "Skeleton Jar". Though it's not a classic by any means, as a whole it's consistent and even has a couple (lesser) hitworthy tracks (most notably "Shadowland" and "Someone Else's Dream"). The singer verges on being unlikable, but he pulls himself back into the realm of mass appeal. You would never guess that these guys are Australian, because the singer especially sounds American. The album is distinctly indie rock with not too much creativity instrumention-wise, but you won't care about that in the end. Though there are songs that are clearly better than others, "Skeleton Jar" thankfully has no filler. It even manages to be emotional and atmospheric on occasion (I'm not sure how to explain this well, though). Every track here is good. I didn't like it all on the first listen, but it grew on me (so be warned!). It might not be for everyone, but indie rock fans will probably like it a lot! Highly recommended!

Highlights include:
the entire album!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars really good..........you'll have it on repeat., March 15, 2006

By	Christoph (toledo, OH) - See all my reviews

havent you heard? these guys are like, totally hot right now!!!!omg they had a song on the o.c.!!!!! just kidding.

but seriously despite the fact that they are being idolized by the irritating pseudo indie faction, these guys write some really good songs. the singer has a voice that recalls robert smith from the cure and the songs are all well constructed and cohesive. I especially like the song "shadowland" and the pixies style riff and background shouting on the song "last quarter". some of the songs seem to be about alot of the same things though. there are two songs that seem to be about women with low self-esteem riding on buses. also the singers voice is so mellow and sensitive sounding that when he swears on "why dont the buildings cry" instead of letting you feel his rage it just sounds kind of funny(another low point is that "why dont the buildings cry" is a really stupid name for a song). but overall this is a strong release from a promising new band.