I will judge an album by the cover. (metal, cd)

4ZZZ · 04-17-2009, 10:36 AM

In the "Last album you bought or downloaded" thread I was intrigued to see a reply that someone "liked the look of that" when a cover was posted. The cover art was attractive so by definition the music should be as well.

Wow I thought. This was not an approach that I had ever taken. Album art has always held a certain attraction but after the fact. Example. I heard Beirut's The Flying Cup Club after being given an mp3 file. I was so impressed with the music that I bought the CD and was equally impressed with the art. The art summed up the music.

I have a great love of trawling music blogs of all genres. It dawned on me that a lot of the time I was reading an entry based on the album art alone but I was not necessarily listening to the music when presented.

So this revue thread will be different. When I find album art on a blog that I like I will also get the album and see if the music is as good, if it maybe defines the music or is just a great album cover with not so good music.

This is all subjective of course. Examples of really good art are manifold but like music are in the ears/eyes of the beholder. But it seems like a good idea and if I only get a few revues in before I get bored nothing is lost other than my already small credibility.

I hope someone enjoys this.

**Janszoon** · 04-17-2009, 10:39 AM

Wow, that is a great idea! I'm really looking forward to reading the reviews.

Zarko · 04-17-2009, 10:48 AM

This thread will be a beaut

Roygbiv · 04-17-2009, 10:56 AM

^ lmao!

Zarko · 04-17-2009, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roygbiv

^ lmao!

Something particularly entertaining about my post?

sidewinder · 04-17-2009, 11:28 AM

I dig this idea. As an old guy, I used to discover music by flipping through the CD racks at the record store. Sometimes a name would catch my attention, sometimes the artwork. Doesn't mean I would pick it up automatically if I liked the cover. Sometimes it depended on the record label, possibly giving me a clue as to what it might sound like, or a promo sticker telling me if I like those bands I may like this, whatever. Point is, being attracted to a cover makes me curious about the music. Unless I recognize the name and know they suck.

Carry on, looking forward to it.

**Janszoon** · 04-17-2009, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sidewinder

I dig this idea. As an old guy, I used to discover music by flipping through the CD racks at the record store. Sometimes a name would catch my attention, sometimes the artwork. Doesn't mean I would pick it up automatically if I liked the cover. Sometimes it depended on the record label, possibly giving me a clue as to what it might sound like, or a promo sticker telling me if I like those bands I may like this, whatever. Point is, being attracted to a cover makes me curious about the music. Unless I recognize the name and know they suck.

Carry on, looking forward to it.

I used do the exact same thing. I can actually think of a couple bands I'm into that I initially checked out because of the name or album cover.

TheCellarTapes · 04-17-2009, 03:38 PM

In my role as a sixties obscurity DJ, I often base my purchases on if the band had good hair and good dress sense on their album covers, it works out at about a 92.45% success rate so far.

To be serious though, the album cover is vital in my purchase decision making, I love shopping blind and finding gems that I never even knew existed. Really in many cases all I have to go off is the album cover and the record label, so I think this thread is going to be a great read.

jackhammer · 04-17-2009, 03:42 PM

In my 14 year old Metal phase I was guilty of this a lot but I haven't gone on album cover alone when buying music at least.

**Janszoon** · 04-17-2009, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jackhammer

In my 14 year old Metal phase I was guilty of this a lot but I haven't gone on album cover alone when buying music at least.

I never buy stuff on the cover alone. But sometimes a nice cover will inspire me to read up on a band and then ultimately wind up buying the album.

04-17-2009, 10:36 AM	#1 (permalink)
4ZZZ Forever young Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Brisbane Posts: 608	I will judge an album by the cover. In the "Last album you bought or downloaded" thread I was intrigued to see a reply that someone "liked the look of that" when a cover was posted. The cover art was attractive so by definition the music should be as well. Wow I thought. This was not an approach that I had ever taken. Album art has always held a certain attraction but after the fact. Example. I heard Beirut's The Flying Cup Club after being given an mp3 file. I was so impressed with the music that I bought the CD and was equally impressed with the art. The art summed up the music. I have a great love of trawling music blogs of all genres. It dawned on me that a lot of the time I was reading an entry based on the album art alone but I was not necessarily listening to the music when presented. So this revue thread will be different. When I find album art on a blog that I like I will also get the album and see if the music is as good, if it maybe defines the music or is just a great album cover with not so good music. This is all subjective of course. Examples of really good art are manifold but like music are in the ears/eyes of the beholder. But it seems like a good idea and if I only get a few revues in before I get bored nothing is lost other than my already small credibility. I hope someone enjoys this. __________________ Terra Music Est Non A Vitium.

04-17-2009, 10:39 AM	#2 (permalink)
Janszoon Mate, Spawn & Die Join Date: May 2007 Location: The Rapping Community Posts: 24,593	Wow, that is a great idea! I'm really looking forward to reading the reviews. __________________ A Night in the Life of the Invisible Man Time & Place 25 Albums You Should Hear Before the Moon Crashes into the Earth and We All Die last.fm

04-17-2009, 10:48 AM	#3 (permalink)
Zarko Barely Disheveled Zombie Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Australia Posts: 1,196	This thread will be a beaut Last edited by Zarko; 04-17-2009 at 10:57 AM.

04-17-2009, 10:56 AM	#4 (permalink)
Roygbiv marquee moon Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 759	^ lmao! __________________ Roygbiv's Review Revue LATEST REVIEW SILENT SHOUT BY THE KNIFE

04-17-2009, 11:28 AM	#6 (permalink)
sidewinder Engorged Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 5,536	I dig this idea. As an old guy, I used to discover music by flipping through the CD racks at the record store. Sometimes a name would catch my attention, sometimes the artwork. Doesn't mean I would pick it up automatically if I liked the cover. Sometimes it depended on the record label, possibly giving me a clue as to what it might sound like, or a promo sticker telling me if I like those bands I may like this, whatever. Point is, being attracted to a cover makes me curious about the music. Unless I recognize the name and know they suck. Carry on, looking forward to it. __________________ last.fm \| my collection on RYM \| vinyl instagram @allthatyouseeandhear I'd love to see your signature/links too, but the huge and obnoxious ones have caused me to block all signatures.

04-17-2009, 03:38 PM	#8 (permalink)
TheCellarTapes Music Addict Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 490	In my role as a sixties obscurity DJ, I often base my purchases on if the band had good hair and good dress sense on their album covers, it works out at about a 92.45% success rate so far. To be serious though, the album cover is vital in my purchase decision making, I love shopping blind and finding gems that I never even knew existed. Really in many cases all I have to go off is the album cover and the record label, so I think this thread is going to be a great read. Last edited by TheCellarTapes; 04-17-2009 at 03:43 PM.

04-17-2009, 03:42 PM	#9 (permalink)
jackhammer Ba and Be. Join Date: May 2007 Location: This Is England Posts: 17,331	In my 14 year old Metal phase I was guilty of this a lot but I haven't gone on album cover alone when buying music at least. __________________ It be my music and film collection. “A cynic by experience, a romantic by inclination and now a hero by necessity.”