Topic: The Best Album Covers Ever Created (Read 28859 times)

Luke C · « **on:** 18 Jul 2007, 09:47 »

Folllowing the worst album covers, nominate your best.

For me the cover of United Abominations by Megadeth is one of my favourites but I'm sure you folks can come up with some more awesome one's.

HunterTelevision · « **Reply #1 on:** 18 Jul 2007, 10:07 »

Off the top of my head:

McTaggart · « **Reply #2 on:** 18 Jul 2007, 10:21 »

For sheer rediculousness.

I have this in the foldy-paper version, but I will buy another copy if I can find one in the fabric (though the foldy-paper one is beautiful too). Also, I will buy the vinyl when I'm next employed. If you're looking to buy this please do not get the crystal case, you're only robbing yourself.

The whole of the packaging is stunning. The toilet bit and the flower are different layers that you only really see one at a time. Inside the light blue and black theme is continued throughout.

I was going to start a "your favourite paper cases" thread after that tangent in one of the Justice threads. My list was Beastie Boys - Hello Nasty, Nick Cave and the Badseeds - Abattoir Blues/The Lyre of Orpheus, The Mountain Goats - Tallahassee and Loscil - First Narrows. There were going to be photos in various states of unfolded. I might still get onto that.

amok · « **Reply #3 on:** 18 Jul 2007, 10:25 »

Not sure about best ever but I'm really digging this from this year:

(Updated to add title and artist by request - this is 'Unstoppable' by SynSUN.)

E. Spaceman · « **Reply #4 on:** 18 Jul 2007, 11:19 »

TheFuriousWombat · « **Reply #5 on:** 18 Jul 2007, 11:27 »

EDITED with album titles:

Some my personal favorites:

No need to give the title for this:

"O’Shenandoah, Mighty Death Will Find Me" by Sparrows Swarm and Sing

"From Bone to Satellite" by Tarentel

"Young Mountain" by This Will Destroy You [really awesome "post rock"]

Kyros · « **Reply #6 on:** 18 Jul 2007, 11:41 »

Here's a few of my favorites:

jhocking · « **Reply #7 on:** 18 Jul 2007, 14:45 »

Only album cover I've ever really liked

Johnny C · « **Reply #8 on:** 18 Jul 2007, 15:21 »

Quote from: jhocking on 18 Jul 2007, 14:45

Covers are shit.

KharBevNor · « **Reply #9 on:** 18 Jul 2007, 15:45 »

ScrambledGregs · « **Reply #10 on:** 18 Jul 2007, 18:00 »

How about you guys give the artist/album title for those, because I don't know what they are but they look cool enough to buy based solely on the art.

tomselleck69 · « **Reply #11 on:** 18 Jul 2007, 18:03 »

Quote from: E. Spaceman on 18 Jul 2007, 11:19

word.

this might be a strange choice, but i think it comes together really well:

StaedlerMars · « **Reply #12 on:** 18 Jul 2007, 18:22 »

Quote from: ScrambledGregs on 18 Jul 2007, 18:00

How about you guys give the artist/album title for those, because I don't know what they are but they look cool enough to buy based solely on the art.

especially the one tommy posted. as well as the one with the bear who has a hut on it.

TheFuriousWombat · « **Reply #13 on:** 18 Jul 2007, 18:24 »

Okay, I'll add titles. I actually would like that from other people too b/c some of this stuff is quite cool.

Inlander · « **Reply #14 on:** 18 Jul 2007, 18:43 »

Here's two of my favourite album covers, just off the top of my head. They couldn't be more different, really:

Two of my favourite albums, too.

TrekkieTechie · « **Reply #15 on:** 18 Jul 2007, 21:13 »

David_Dovey · « **Reply #16 on:** 18 Jul 2007, 21:37 »

Pretty much anything by Storm Thorgerson or the Hipgnosis studio... think all of the Pink Floyd and Alan Parsons albums, and a good deal of Led Zeppelin albums plus heaps more.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hipgnosis

Another asrtist I really admire is Travis Smith, who has done a bunch of covers for Opeth, as well Katatonia, Devin Townsend and Nevermore among others.

http://www.seempieces.com/

Plus:
"Blood Inside" by Ulver

The version I have got is a red velvet case with the most beautiful booklet and CD sleeve inside, printed on the nicest paper.

"Aenima" by Tool

The lenticular version, of course.

"On Letting Go" by Circa Survive

Just bought this the other day, wonderful painting on the slip cover, and the booklet is really inventive as well, as it has concentric circles die-cut out of it, to reveal different aspects of the painting as you turn the pages.

"Gravity Won't Get You High" by The Grates

Another die-cut booklet. Pretty much every aspect of this cover folds out as it's own seperate little piece.

"Casually Dressed and Deep in Conversation" by Funeral For a Friend

because it is based on the art work of Rene Magritte, whom I love.

I could probably go on and on.

Kyros · « **Reply #17 on:** 18 Jul 2007, 22:26 »

Quote from: Kyros on 18 Jul 2007, 11:41

Here's a few of my favorites:

The Dismemberment Plan is Terrified - The Dismemberment Plan

Friend & Foe - Menomena

For Hero: For Fool - Subtle

StaedlerMars · « **Reply #18 on:** 19 Jul 2007, 05:55 »

Quote from: TrekkieTechie on 18 Jul 2007, 21:13

The Beatles - White Album

the who - magic bus

the beatles - abbey road

led zepellin - houses of the holy

monty python sings

Quote from: tommydski on 19 Jul 2007, 04:14

There's a song called 'Veronica' that I like.

I like that song. Definitly sounds like a band I want to look into.

ScrambledGregs · « **Reply #19 on:** 19 Jul 2007, 09:21 »

Apologies for the random sizes, but I don't have the patience to upload/resize these to my own space.

My Bloody Valentine- Loveless (because duh)

Can- Tago Mago (Of all of Can's covers, this is the least cheeky or cartoony)

Eluvium- Copia (pretty much all of his covers fit the music well, but something about this says more than the title to me)

Grizzly Bear- Yellow House (for fitting both the album title and the feel of the music so well)

Low- Secret Name (I tend to think of this as Low's most iconic cover, if only because flowers are so fragile and yet so powerful at the same time)

Phish- Slip Stitch and Pass (done by Storm Thorgeson, and a suitably playful/psychedelic cover)

Slint- Spiderland (because duh)

Tortoise- TNT (this is one of my personal favorite covers, if only because it's so vague and lazy and tells you absolutely nothing about the album, and I bought it out of sheer curiosity)

Wire- Pink Flag (fuck the Sex Pistols, to me this is punk rock's most iconic album cover)

imapiratearg · « **Reply #20 on:** 19 Jul 2007, 09:33 »

Circa Survive has some really strange album covers. Juturna's is really weird as well.

I really like this cover:

The Receiving End of Sirens - Between the Heart and the Synapse

I'm not so much a huge fan of their music though.

Luke C · « **Reply #21 on:** 19 Jul 2007, 10:50 »

Cool stuff guys.

barnacle · « **Reply #22 on:** 19 Jul 2007, 12:16 »

SensoryOssuary · « **Reply #23 on:** 19 Jul 2007, 13:20 »

Odd Clouds - Cleft Foot of the Woods

Thrillho · « **Reply #24 on:** 19 Jul 2007, 16:49 »

To the person who wants a fabric version of Abattoir/Lyre... don't bother. It comes to pieces if you try and play it more than once.

IronOxide · « **Reply #25 on:** 19 Jul 2007, 17:38 »

Pretty irrelevant to the the album, but I like Warhol's prints.

imapiratearg · « **Reply #26 on:** 19 Jul 2007, 20:59 »

I like his stuff too.

Lazer · « **Reply #27 on:** 20 Jul 2007, 00:30 »

I always thought the cover of St. Elsewhere was pretty cool

mmm taste that hotlink.

Inlander · « **Reply #28 on:** 20 Jul 2007, 00:53 »

Well if we're talking cartoonish covers then you can't go past the cover for the Harder They Come soundtrack:

Although that may be largely because I really really want that t-shirt Jimmy Cliff is wearing (the blue one with the star on it).

EDIT: also of course the cover for Cheap Thrills by Big Brother and the Holding Company, but that goes without saying.

Luke C · « **Reply #29 on:** 20 Jul 2007, 03:24 »

Shadows Collide · « **Reply #30 on:** 20 Jul 2007, 07:18 »

Sly ... Stone - Stand

Joy Division, Closer (duh)

Maggot Brain!

Vinyl Gatefold of Bitches Brew (not mine

)

halfdeadhippo · « **Reply #31 on:** 20 Jul 2007, 10:42 »

Sleep's Holy Mountain

Love Forever Changes

Boris and Sunn o))) Altar

Lummer · « **Reply #32 on:** 20 Jul 2007, 12:53 »

Ã¶de · « **Reply #33 on:** 20 Jul 2007, 12:59 »

Quote from: Inlander on 18 Jul 2007, 18:43

Thanks for reminding me I need more Tea Party albums!

Rishnai · « **Reply #34 on:** 20 Jul 2007, 13:21 »

Quote from: David_Dovey on 18 Jul 2007, 21:37

Pretty much anything by Storm Thorgerson or the Hipgnosis studio... think all of the Pink Floyd and Alan Parsons albums, and a good deal of Led Zeppelin albums plus heaps more.

Hear, hear!

Of the Hipgnosis art, I would have to say my favorite is

Also, 10,000 Days, by tool, some of the inside art is just amazing, not the least of which being

Then there's Moving Pictures, by Rush

Rolling Thunder, The Grateful Dead

All of Journey's covers.

Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap, AC/DC

Ladies and Gentlemen: The Grateful Dead

Well, somebody's already posted the White Album, how about the Black Album?
(Sorry, can't find any good photos easily)

Speaking of Black albums:

And, of course, all of Ozzy's covers, but this one in particular:

I can go on and on and on until I've posted hundreds of photos. but I'm going to leave bandwidth for everyone else. Also, popcorn calls me.

Freezey · « **Reply #35 on:** 20 Jul 2007, 13:55 »

a few of my favourites that come to mind:

l-r Jets to Brazil "Perfecting Loneliness", New Mexican Disaster Squad + Western Addiction split, Sonic Youth "Sonic Nurse", the Replacements "Let it Be".

I picked up posters of the JTB + SY ones because I liked the art so much. I got the NMDS/WA split on LP so I could have a larger version - it's so colourful and fun. As for the Replacements, well, it's just such a fitting photo that while not the most visually appealing, it exudes this fitting aesthetic to the album. "Pleased to Meet Me" would be more fitting for the band as a whole, mind you...

Lummer · « **Reply #36 on:** 20 Jul 2007, 14:43 »

Dan Seagrave anyone?

StaedlerMars · « **Reply #37 on:** 20 Jul 2007, 14:53 »

Quote from: tommydski on 20 Jul 2007, 13:50

This thread is uttterly interchangeable with the 'Worst Album Covers' Thread.

aah, and here lies one of those mysteries of human nature. we think that things that are bad are somehow appealing. in a cute kind of way.

ScrambledGregs · « **Reply #38 on:** 20 Jul 2007, 16:26 »

Quote from: tommydski on 20 Jul 2007, 13:50

This thread is uttterly interchangeable with the 'Worst Album Covers' Thread.

Ignore the Brit; he's just got smoke up his ass because we didn't post any Fugazi or Shellac.

Johnny C · « **Reply #39 on:** 20 Jul 2007, 17:55 »

These are my favourite record covers that I own.

Pixies' Surfer Rosa, slightly NSFW

That's all I can think of off the top of my head.

Inlander · « **Reply #40 on:** 20 Jul 2007, 18:57 »

Quote from: Ã¶de on 20 Jul 2007, 12:59

Thanks for reminding me I need more Tea Party albums!

No you don't, you just need Splendor Solis. And the Alhambra E.P. if you can get your hands on it.

Nothing after that is really worth the trouble.

philharmonic · « **Reply #41 on:** 20 Jul 2007, 19:03 »

hmm i'll vote for AC~DC Dirty Deeds it's a neat concept. One of my favorites is this one

too bad they (Google) didn't seem to have the back cover of the rest of it.

2HourHiatus · « **Reply #42 on:** 20 Jul 2007, 20:59 »

Godspeed You! Black Emperor - F#A#Infinity
This album cover pretty much tells you what the album sounds like.

The Flaming Lips - At War With The Mystics
For some reason, I love the explosion of paint going on here.

By the way, the Tarentel and Grizzly bear album covers are beautiful.

Thrillho · « **Reply #43 on:** 21 Jul 2007, 08:30 »

Mnementh · « **Reply #44 on:** 21 Jul 2007, 12:51 »

Kai · « **Reply #45 on:** 21 Jul 2007, 12:53 »

guys this is the worst "Best album covers" thread ever.

Johnny C · « **Reply #46 on:** 21 Jul 2007, 13:37 »

To start the page off right, here is some Jesu, in chronological order:

TheFuriousWombat · « **Reply #47 on:** 21 Jul 2007, 15:12 »

You forgot this Jesu cover (although to be fair it's only half Jesu and not an amazing cover)

So far I think the best cover that's been posted, and it's been posted by a few people, is NMH's 'In the Aeroplane Over the Sea.' That's such a great cover. Not only is the artwork and the style terrific, it's really indicative of what kind of music you'll be hearing when you listen to the record. Same with the artwork on the back of that album actually:

The more I think about it, the more I feel that this is my number one favorite cover.

ScrambledGregs · « **Reply #48 on:** 21 Jul 2007, 16:14 »

Record covers are one of those things that I never pay attention to until people ask me directly about them. Unless they're really shit, like the new Smashing Pumpkins one, I just sort of shrug and buy the thing.

For the record, I really like most of the Sea and Cake's covers. Particularly Oui which is just as breezy and summery as the music.

Ishotdanieljohnston · « **Reply #49 on:** 22 Jul 2007, 05:24 »

Quote from: E. Spaceman on 18 Jul 2007, 11:19

AGREED

THESE FORUMS NOW CLOSED (read only)

Author Topic: The Best Album Covers Ever Created (Read 28859 times)

HunterTelevision

ScrambledGregs

ScrambledGregs

barnacle

SensoryOssuary

Shadows Collide

halfdeadhippo

Rishnai

Freezey

ScrambledGregs

Mnementh

ScrambledGregs