Album Cover #1

This is my first Album cover design, because this was only a practise I got the picture from the internet. I used photoshop to edit the original picture and ad the text. I used this picture because i felt the contrast and colour balance was a convention of indie genre. The dull but bright colours help achieve emotion for the film, they are dull and when i look at them i get this sad emotion. Putting the artists name and song title on this cover was obvious, titles are conventions of album covers and are seen on a majority I chose to use a fishbowl effect on the title, fishbowl photography is extremely popular in indie cultures, capturing an image from the eyes of a fish bowl adds originality to the photograph. I feel this has added originality for the cover. I liked that this picture wasn't of the ocean, or water instead it was completely the opposite, in the foreground appears to be a close up of a bush of some kind, and in the distance there seems to be a variety of buildings possibly suggesting a town may be there. I thought the bush could be a code for a separation between the artist who is on this side of the bush and the city in the distance being a place where she wants to be. However she can't get there because her life on this side of the separation hasn't finished yet or is too complicated to move on. This also connects with the narrative in the story. When the picture and the font are connected it could resemble her life now, pure and innocent in the freedom of the ocean opposed to the life she is entering of consumerism and wealth in the city. Again this is why i put the artist name and song title in different colours and fonts, her life may be pure now which is why i used white and she may be looking at a future that isn't pure. I chose to put the artists website on the cover because it is simply another marketing mechanism, if people don't buy her album they will still notice the website and may decide to check that out.

Album Cover #2

This is my second album cover. I have chosen to use an image of a girl standing in the ocean simply because it represents the title of the single 'Shark in The Water'. Once again i edited the original image to improve the contrast, shadows and highlights. Once I had finished editing this picture I thought it looked like a photo from a film camera opposed to a digital camera, the costume is also a resemblance of the 1960's tight and loose clothes being a typical convention within the time period. This therefore relates to the time this specific genre of the music was created.

Nevermind - Nivarna

Nevermind is the second studio album by the American rock band Nirvana, released in 1991, at the time of the release it was extremely original. It cooperates many codes and conventions that are seen throughout the industry.

CODES:

The simplicity of this cover is ironic because the message is sells in far from, the baby in the open water reaching for a US dollar has more meaning than appears to the eye. The fact that the director has used a completely naked baby could support the idea that the baby is new born and currently untouched from American consumerism therefore pure and innocent. However this is then argued against with the baby reaching towards a US dollar. This image has therefore managed to turn the baby into commodity, and focus his mind on money which ties in well with the representation of wealth, American consumerism and social status. Having the money attached to a fishing hook gives off the impression that the baby, like a fish is chasing the bait. However in this circumstance the bait is clearly the money. The open ocean is a clear representation of freedom, this baby is in an area of never ending water which could undoubtably be a representation of the extent to which you can reach in being famous, there are no boundaries.

The title, 'Nevermind' also seems to be underwater, the uneven letters although simple and elegant, tall and in somewhat 'standing their ground' could be a representation of their personal beliefs and how they feel being a part of such an extravagant industry. They sometimes feel frail and weak, but still stand strong. The black font has added yet more simplicity, which also represent death and horror in certain genres. Black is a cold colour that you may use against someone to show your emotions. Nirvana clearly have political ideology on American consumerism.

The Beatles - album cover

During the time this album was released it received an outstanding response from the audience, it was a revolution as far as album artwork goes; known well as 'a work of art'. It's image was entirely original and unique. The cover was created by Peter Blake who at the time was a Pop Artist which was emerging with high art in the 1960's. Before this album was released album covers were not considered to be 'artwork' but simply advertisement for the artist/band. Therefore this magnificent album from the Beatles created a huge movement and enhanced the importance album art had on both the artist's image and the audience. 

. The flowers at the base of the cover are a well known code for the hippy scene along with peace and love. Having this on the cover of their album sells them to the audience in a way in which they want to be perceived. 

.The drum in the centre of them image is an obvious code for music, but could also represent the band as a 'circus'. Circus' hold connotations of fun, cheerful, colourful, and lively. These connotations could also be how the band want to represent themselves to their audience as fun and lively. 

. The main band members immediately behind the drum set are wearing extremely bright costumes which seem to be very militaryesc. This could be a parody of the military because of the already discovered circus theme within the cover. The thought of the circus theme is supported by the artists' standing directly behind the drum possibly as 'ringleaders'.

.The album cover also gives the band the arrogant stereotype. This is due to them standing centre front of an entourage of iconic legends within the industry. This could be because as of this album they have recognised that they are among the iconic legends in hollywood history. However this positioning is a significant code for their own significance in this album, seen as it is their album it would be weird to not have them centre stage. 

.Freedom was a huge part of the hippy scene and this is supported by the blue sky that is a code for freedom, hope, happiness and summer. They seem to be isolated on an island with other legends within the industry, this immediately separates them from the british audience they appeal too which could imply that they are not involved in this glamourous life that only true legends can experience. 

Album Covers...

During the next period of my coursework I will be working towards creating album covers for my band/artists. In order to successfully do this I must carry out a selection of research methods. To begin with I have created a collage of a selected few of my personal favourite albums. I feel this has given me insight into the main codes and conventions of a typical album cover which will help influence and enhance my final design. Most album covers have conventions such as a title, barcode, album track list and artist/band name however this is not necessarily a must. The codes hidden within the cover are meaningful and often have some form of reference to the band.  I think album covers are a significantly important part of advertising for current  artists, providing a bright, or eye catching image that distinguishes  the artists and sets them immediately apart from other artists and draws the audiences attention and creates mystery.  

 

Below is an analysis of a current  selling album cover.