"Skeleton Tree" is the sixteenth studio album by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, released on 9 September 2016 through Bad Seed Ltd. The album follows their 2013 release Push the Sky Away, which had garnered critical praise. Recording sessions for Skeleton Tree took place over 18 months across various studios, including Retreat Recording Studios in Brighton, La Frette Studios in La Frette-sur-Seine, France, and Air Studios in London. The album was produced by Nick Cave, Warren Ellis, and long-time collaborator Nick Launay.
The creation of Skeleton Tree was heavily impacted by the tragic death of Nick Cave's 15-year-old son, Arthur, who passed away in an accidental fall during the recording period. Although most of the album had already been written by the time of Arthur's death, Cave amended several lyrics during the later recording sessions, drawing deeply on his grief and the themes of loss, death, and sorrow.
Musically, Skeleton Tree is known for its minimalistic production and raw, unpolished sound, which contrasts with some of the more refined works from the band's discography. The album incorporates elements of electronica and ambient music, continuing in the experimental vein of Push the Sky Away, with extensive use of synthesizers, drum machines, and loops. The album's sound is characterized by dissonant, avant-garde musical elements and non-standard song structures, which amplify the emotional intensity of the record. Cave's lyrics are noted for being more abstract and less narrative-driven than in earlier works, moving toward a more allegorical and impressionistic style that mirrors his personal emotional landscape at the time.
Accompanying the release of Skeleton Tree was One More Time with Feeling, a documentary film directed by Andrew Dominik. The film chronicles the making of the album and explores the impact of Arthur's death on Cave and his family. The film was conceived by Cave as a way to contextualize the album without having to engage in traditional media interviews, which he was reluctant to do during this deeply personal time. One More Time with Feeling was released in select cinemas and, like the album, received widespread critical acclaim.
Both the album and the film were hailed for their emotional depth, artistic bravery, and stark portrayal of grief. Skeleton Tree achieved commercial success, becoming the band's second album to enter the U.S. Top 30, peaking at No. 27, marking their highest ranking in the U.S. to date.
