Looking at Album Artwork

I have been looking at album artwork and thinking about what contributes to good album artwork. I discovered that album artwork should construct the image of the artist/band as explained by Dyer’s star theory, convey the ideology of the artist/band, represent the genre of the music, attract the target audience, give an idea as to whether the artist is organic or synthetic as explained by Negus’ theory and finally that it stands out from the rest of the album artworks on the shelf.

marlowe – ‘it’s turning me on’ – debut EP

Do you think this album belongs to a band or artist, and why?

Through the use of the symbolic conventions used I would assume that it an artist due to the fact that the album artwork only features one person and it is a very simplistic image.

Is this band/artist being represented as synthetic or organic?

From Negus’ organic or synthetic theory I would say that this album artwork is definitely organic due to the fact that it appears marled, vintage and worn out.

What genre do you think this album is and why?

I would assume that the genre is indie because it appears alternative and ambiguous which fits well with the symbolic conventions associated with this genre of music.

What do you like/dislike about the artwork? Why?

I really like this album artwork because it is simplistic, artistic and alternative as well as being original and slightly ambiguous.

What questions would you ask the band/artist?

I would ask the designer the following questions about the choices behind their album artwork including Why the colour red? Who is the girl?  Inspiration behind the design? Why dark red? Why the classic old fashioned vibe, warn photo/ faded photo

marlowe – ‘darksparklecorner’ – debut album

Do you think this album belongs to a band or artist, and why?

I think that this album artwork represents a band due to the fact that it doesn’t single anyone out and it is clearly not one of the band members or the artist featured in the album artwork and additionally there is no focus making it appear that it is for a band not an artist.

Is this band/artist being represented as synthetic or organic?

I would say that they would be described as organic from Negus’ organic or synthetic theory because of the use of the simplistic design, the use of muted colours, the fact that it appears candid, unprofessional and washed out. Through the use of the symbolic conventions it makes me think that this band would be organic.

What genre do you think this album is and why?

I would say that the genre is indie/rock because the album artwork shows someone who is scared and this provides a creepy vibe which through the symbolic conventions used creates the sense that it is music of the indie/rock genre.

What do you like/dislike about the artwork? Why?

To be honest, I don’t really like this album artwork  because in my opinion it is not very aesthetically pleasing and appears to be quite disturbing and portraying a nightmare although it is very ambiguous and it isn’t clear as to what genre the music is.

What questions would you ask the band/artist?

I would ask the band the following questions: Who is the kid? What is the story of the boy? Is there a link to the songs? Or is a random photo? Why chose an over exposed picture? No space in album title, why? Were you not worried about the genre being to hidden? Not concerned audience might be turned off from creepy unsettling picture?

marlowe – ‘a day in july’

Do you think this album belongs to a band or artist, and why?

I think that this album artwork belongs to a band due to the fact that the album artwork features the use of children who are sitting together and this could be representative or symbolic of the members of the band.

What genre do you think this album is and why?

In my opinion, the genre of the music appears to be indie/folk and I got this impression through the use of the symbolic conventions used in the album artwork such as the use of the muted colours and the use of the children.

Is this band/artist being represented as synthetic or organic?

From my point of view taking into account Negus’ theory I would say that the band is organic because they have used nature, an aesthetically pleasing landscape, the worn out/vintage appearance as well as the muted colours.

What do you like/dislike about the artwork? Why?

I like this album artwork as it is aesthetically pleasing and it appears calming and tranquil which matches my impressions of what genre the music would be. The album artwork also provides a chilled out vibe and this attracts me to it.

What questions would you ask the band/artist?

If I got the opportunity to ask the band/artist some questions I would ask the following questions: Red link across all three?  Why? Does the image/title of the album have a significance to the band? Significance of the character positioning?

marlowe – ‘deep breathe fake air’

Do you think this album belongs to a band or artist, and why?

In my opinion, this album artwork suggest that it is of an artist and not a band because the artwork only features one person and the symbolic conventions used also suggest that it is an artist.

What genre do you think this album is and why?

I would say that the genre is indie because the words coming out the mouth suggest that he is singing it and the artwork itself provides the idea that it is indie and alternative.

Is this band/artist being represented as synthetic or organic?

From Negus’ organic or synthetic theory I would say that this artist is being represented as organic through the symbolic conventions of using muted colours and the ambiguous and alternative image.

What do you like/dislike about the artwork? Why?

I really like this album artwork because from my point of view it is cool, original, unique and aesthetically pleasing. This is one of my favourite album artworks from the group that I have been looking out because I believe that the idea is creative and imaginative.

What questions would you ask the band/artist?

I would ask the artist or band the following questions: The significance of the use of letters and that come repeat? Is this change form the last two albums reflecting a change in direction for the band? Is there a link to your first album and is so why? Why no eyes? Use of arrows? No identify throughout, why?

Testcard – Lines – debut album

Do you think this album belongs to a band or artist, and why?

I get the impression from the album artwork that it is a band due to the fact that it is very ambiguous and nobody is shown on the cover in addition to the fact that in my opinion the lines could represent the collaboration of the band members.

What genre do you think this album is and why?

I am convinced that the genre is indie because the album artwork, through the use of the symbolic conventions, provides an ambiguous and simplistic vibe which coincides with the indie genre.

Is this band/artist being represented as synthetic or organic?

In my opinion, Negus’ organic or synthetic theory would say that  this album artwork represents the band as organic due to the fact that the album artwork appears vintage and marled which makes it appear down to earth and original.

What do you like/dislike about the artwork? Why?

I like this album artwork because it is really simplistic and I believe that it would draw in an audience. However, on the other hand the album artwork is also very ambiguous and so it doesn’t give any clues about the genre of the music.

What questions would you ask the band/artist?

If I had the opportunity I would ask the band/artist the following questions: Why only lines? How does this help represent your band? Why the lack of colour when you have used red so often?

ROJA – ‘promises I should have kept’

Do you think this album belongs to a band or artist, and why?

I believe that this album artwork belongs to a band due to the fact that nobody is shown on the album artwork and this makes it quite ambiguous.

What genre do you think this album is and why?

In my opinion, the genre of music for this album artwork is indie/folk because of the symbolic conventions of the background and location and the use of the horse.

Is this band/artist being represented as synthetic or organic?

I think that this band/artist is likely to be organic according to Negus’ theory of organic or synthetic because of the symbolic conventions of the muted colours and the marled affect.

What do you like/dislike about the artwork? Why?

To be honest, I don’t particularly like this album artwork because I find it quite unsettling, creepy and off-putting. Additionally, the album is also quite ambiguous and it is hard to decipher the ideology of the band from the album artwork.

What questions would you ask the band/artist?

I would ask the band the following questions: Why the Mexican imagery? Why suddenly have the band name stand out? Title of the album seems more personal, why? What is the relevance behind it?