Inspired by the “Rantology Artwork” thread naturally. I believe nice cover art is paramount to a release. So much so that if a cover on a CD/DVD/game is super ugly, I refuse to buy it. So here’s a thread dedicated to cover art, name your top ten CD/LP (even cassette!) covers and maybe even your favourite designers if you have them.
My top ten (in no particular order)
Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here (now, I fucking hate Pink Floyd, but I have to bow down to this one. Fantastic!)
Joy Division - Unknown Pleasures
David Bowie - Lodger
New Order - True Faith
Download - The Eyes of Stanley Pain
Patti Smith - Horses
Ministry - Filth Pig
My Bloody Valentine - Loveless
The Velvet Underground - White Light/White Heat
Throbbing Gristle - 20 Jazz Funk Greats
As far as designers go, I really like Dave McKean’s work. He’s the one who designed Fear Factory’s “Demanufacture”, Paradise Lost’s “Shades Of God”, Life Of Agony’s “Soul Searching Sun”, Download’s “Eyes Of Stanley Pain” (this one is one of my all-time favorites) and Frontline Assembly’s “Millenium”, among many others.
The Melvins have some of the best covers ever designed. Actually, they were used as examples of innovative cover design in my design course at the university. My favorite cover of thiers is probably “Colossus Of Destiny”. The cover to “Millenium Monsterwork” by Fantomas/Melvins is also great.
When I think of album cover artwork I tend to think of New Order, smiths,… and (go easy on me) early REM albums. All of these bands had consistent artwork. I saw a New Order interview a while back where they talked about what Peter Saville’s direction was. He said it was pretty much based on the idea that fans knew something that others didn’t. In other words, the artwork didn’t exactly represent the band, but the fans knew it did.
The internet has really changed all of this for me. I remember back a long time ago when I 'd buy an Album, and just sit in my floor in front of the speakers and stare at the album art, read the liner notes, etc. Within a few weeks I’d know every little nuance. Somehow, that has seemingly changed - for me at least.
PIL - Second Edition
Magazine - Real Life
Aphex Twin - Drukqs
Skinny Puppy - ViViSect Vi
Ween - Chocolate And Cheese
Julian Cope - Peggy Suicide
Kiss - Love Gun
Primal Scream - Screamadelica
Butthole Surfers - Locust Abortion Technician
Mission Of Burma - Vs
Hawkwind - Space Ritual
The Cure - Pornography
Devo - Are We Not Men?
Sparks - Kimono My House
Judas Priest - Stained Class