Album covers

Saturday 26 January 2008 – 14:32

This is a rather pointless post on album covers.

I had never listened to Electrelane before, despite several albums in the house, but when I saw No Shouts No Calls, I was struck by the great cover and gave them a go and now I like them (just as they go on hiatus…).

All these albums are in our collection and only include music I regularly listen to so
there will be no reference to Blind Faith’s Blind Faith (eww) or to Luna’s The Days of Our Nights.

Covers that work for me:
No shouts
Electrelane - No Shouts No Calls - I like the simple colours and the fact it looks like a badge.
Espers II
Espers - II - This cover in no way misleads as to the content of the album.
Lost in Space
Aimee Mann - Lost in Space - Aimee’s covers are usually unenticing and this I suppose for many would be no exception but the songs on the album are gloomy and you get what you pay for. Pylons are oddly beautiful, I think.
Visible Forms
Audrey - Visible Forms - This is pretty.
On Leaving
Nina Nastasia - On Leaving - I like images of black and white trees a lot.
Advisory Committee
Mirah - Advisory Committee - To be honest, this cover makes me feel a little uncomfortable and yet it is intriguing.
Carbon Glacier
Laura Veirs - Carbon Glacier - Another black and white image which I find arresting. If I was flicking through the racks in a record shop I would definitely stop at this.
Noe It’s Time
Paula Frazer & Tarnation - Now It’s Time - Aww, this is so beautiful.

Covers that don’t work for me:
The Trials
Midlake - The Trials of Van Occupanther - Wtf were they thinking? It must have been fun to dress up like that but how many casual sales did they lose?
Aerial
Kate Bush - Aerial - Kate Bush’s sleeves are generally naff (except The Dreaming) but this is plain horrible. I bought Aerial regardless but I think this is dated and ugly. Kate, take at look at any Espers album cover, that’s what your music is like.
Fur & Gold
Bat for Lashes - Fur & Gold - Flipping heck, thank goodness Natasha Khan’s music is in better taste than her costumes and artwork.
Hips & Makers
Kristin Hersh - Hips & Makers - This is actually not that bad for a work of art. I can imagine it on my wall but in miniature on a CD case (or LP sleeve) its too messy and dirty looking.
The Bird of Music
Au Revoir Simone - The Bird of Music - Snore.

  1. One Response to “Album covers”

  2. If you’re going to mean to Luna (and “Days…” is admittedly a pretty horrible cover) you could have chucked in Penthouse as a great one! Also you say “in our collection” and “Blind Faith” in uncomfortably close proximity!

    By Andy on Sunday 27 January 2008 – 10:42

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