Favourite Album Cover [lots of images - dialup beware]

[poprock]

Originally Posted by Shannow

Id agree if it was a discussion on artistic style rather than simply 'post album covers you like'.

There's no reason why it can't be both.

Personally, I'm not a fan of most of what's been posted here because they're nothing more to me than clichéd illustration jobs slapped into a CD box (or onto a vinyl sleeve). While that can still be relevant, it's far from the be-all and end-all. There's no engagement with the fact that a CD or record is as much an object in it's own right as it is a carrier for music.

What about the Massive Attack box-set printed with heat-sensitive inks, so that images beneath the coating are revealed as and when you hold it in your hands? Or the Rune Grammofon releases that build into a minimalist matching set differentiated purely by the information on the spines? How about the modernised cut-up aesthetic of Intro's designs for Primal Scream's XTRMNTR album, and the way it tied in beautifully with the animated videos created by the same studio? Or Designers Republic's ground-breaking work for Pop Will Eat Itself back in the early nineties, where they took the concept of sampling into the visual realm and the concept of brand-building into the music world, revolutionising British graphic design?

[Shannow]

Originally Posted by poprock

There's no reason why it can't be both.

Personally, I'm not a fan of most of what's been posted here because they're nothing more to me than clichéd illustration jobs slapped into a CD box (or onto a vinyl sleeve). While that can still be relevant, it's far from the be-all and end-all. There's no engagement with the fact that a CD or record is as much an object in it's own right as it is a carrier for music.

What about the Massive Attack box-set printed with heat-sensitive inks, so that images benetah the coating are revealed as and when you hold it in your hands? Or the Rune Grammofon releases that build into a minimalist matching set differentiated purely by the information on the spines? How about the modernised cut-up aesthetic of Intro's designs for Primal Scream's XTRMNTR album, and the way it tied in beautifully with the animated videos created by the same studio? Or Designers Republic's gorund-breaking work for Pop Will eat Itself back in the early nineties, where they took the concept of sampling into the visual realm and the concept of brand-building into the music world, revolutionising British graphic design?

I still call this a general chat thread.

Not eveyone (foolishly) browses by 'new posts'.

[poprock]

Well, I did leave a redirect to it in GC. Feel free to move it back if you feel strongly about it though.

[Cat]

Here are some that aren't necessarily the best, but ones that I really like and are the first to come to mind.

Fantomas: The Directors cut



The Progidy: Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned



The Stranglers: Black and White

[McLeary]

The Dead Kennedys had some brilliant stuff too, but I can't be arsed going looking for pics of any of them.

[McLeary]

Originally Posted by poprock

What about the Massive Attack box-set printed with heat-sensitive inks, so that images beneath the coating are revealed as and when you hold it in your hands? Or the Rune Grammofon releases that build into a minimalist matching set differentiated purely by the information on the spines? How about the modernised cut-up aesthetic of Intro's designs for Primal Scream's XTRMNTR album, and the way it tied in beautifully with the animated videos created by the same studio? Or Designers Republic's ground-breaking work for Pop Will Eat Itself back in the early nineties, where they took the concept of sampling into the visual realm and the concept of brand-building into the music world, revolutionising British graphic design?

What about them?

[Comic Book Guru]

One of my fav's

[poprock]

Originally Posted by McLeary

What about them?

Those were some examples off the top of my head that treat the album cover as more than just a place to stick a pretty picture.

I was making a point to see if anybody wanted to take on record covers as a topic for discussion, rather than simply posting their favourites.

[Hammer]

Mortiis - The Grudge Ltd Ed (the one with the plastic sleeve notes) This is a pic of the normal cover, doesn't do it justice.



Also Ltd Ed of REM's Greatest HIts. Amazing cover and packaging Again, pic doesn't do it justice

[MarkMono]

I'm in work so can't upload a pic but The Clash - London Calling wins this every time for me.

Possibly with Cannibal Corpse - Tomb Of The Mutilated in second place and PWEI - The Looks Or The lifestyle in third.

[lethalcyrus]

Ive always liked this cover..

[poprock]

New Order - Blue Monday 12"



Simply because of the story around it. The printing and cutting involved made sure that the sleeve cost more to produce than they could sell the record for, so Factory Records made a loss on every single copy sold. The fact that it went on to become the biggest-selling 12" single ever caused them somewhat of a financial crisis.

[djbarry]

Not really a good design job, but it does feature one of my fave Giger paintings...

Celtic Frost - To Mega Therion

[PieceOnKeys]

The Grateful Dead - The Closing Of Winterland.



And the original CD cover of: Pink Floyd - Pulse.



The original had a small red light on the slipcase that blinked on and off. Apparently it was supposed to symbolise the heartbeat (pulse - gettit?) of each listener. Thought that was great at the time! Lost my copy of it when i moved house.

[John Spartan]

Couple of my favorites.

Blasphemy made flesh by Cryptopsy



Butchered At Birth by Cannibal Corpse



Cypress Hill-Temple of Boom