Skylight

Skylight is the third studio album by Pinegrove, a pivotal release that arrived under a cloud of controversy and a self-imposed hiatus. Recorded in mid-2017 in a communal home in Kinderhook, New York, the album captures the band at their most insular and refined. Following allegations against frontman Evan Stephens Hall, the band withdrew from the public eye, eventually self-releasing the album on Bandcamp in 2018 with proceeds going to charity. Sonically, Skylight moves away from the more aggressive emo-leaning tendencies of Cardinal toward a sophisticated, stripped-back Americana. The production, handled by Hall and Sam Skinner, emphasizes analog warmth and dry, intimate vocal takes. The album is notable for its brevity and its 'Skylight II' companion, which offers acoustic versions of the same tracks, highlighting the strength of the core songwriting. Despite its quiet release, it solidified the band's 'pinenut' fanbase and remains a benchmark for the 'alt-country-emo' subgenre.