Lazy album covers??

Karice · 02-25-2022, 03:33 AM

The album covers I find lazy are the ones where the Singer or Singers or Musicians are just looking at the camera. Mariah Carey's album covers are generally lazy like this. Just her face staring at the camera. Daydream is a prime example of this. If you're going to have the Singers and or Musicians stare at the camera, at least do it creatively. For example, Guns N'Roses Appetite For Destruction Cross Version has the Lead Singer and the Musicians/Backing Singers staring at the camera in animated skull form, which is actually cool.

Trollheart · 02-25-2022, 06:27 AM

While I agree that an album cover is - or was - often the first point at which I would be interested in a new artist, it doesn't necessarily have to be "exciting". It is, after all, only a picture, and I'd much rather the artist or label expend less effort on the cover and the music be great, than have a cool cover with terrible music. Some of the greatest albums have had simple covers, though I suppose it depends on what you consider a "lazy" one. Is this lazy?

This?

Or this?

or this

Eye of the beholder, as they say.

SGR · 02-25-2022, 07:29 AM

How bout this one?

Kanye West - Donda (2021)

While I love a unique and interesting album cover, I think it's not at the top of many artist's or labels' priority list. Given that most of the time these days, the target market for new music is streaming or downloading their music digitally, an eye-catching album cover isn't as much of a necessity as it was when the standard way people were buying new music was browsing new records in a shop.

Trollheart · 02-25-2022, 12:59 PM

Also used by Metallica.

rubber soul · 02-25-2022, 01:07 PM

Well since were on a colors kick

Trollheart · 02-25-2022, 07:15 PM

DriveYourCarDownToTheSea · 02-25-2022, 07:33 PM

Lisnaholic · 02-26-2022, 07:55 AM

Yes, as a kid buying albums, some of those boring album covers used to annoy me too. I always thought, given the innovations and intricasies of the music inside, that the cover of Pet Sounds should've been better. Instead, it looks like they handed off the cover for an intern to knock up during his lunch break.

rubber soul · 02-26-2022, 08:10 AM

I think the Pet Sounds album cover was set up by the brains at Capitol Records. Brian Wilson is said not to have been happy with that cover.

Trollheart · 02-26-2022, 01:12 PM

Yeah, I heard it really got his goat.

02-25-2022, 03:33 AM	#1 (permalink)
Karice Music Addict Join Date: Jan 2022 Posts: 439	Lazy album covers?? The album covers I find lazy are the ones where the Singer or Singers or Musicians are just looking at the camera. Mariah Carey's album covers are generally lazy like this. Just her face staring at the camera. Daydream is a prime example of this. If you're going to have the Singers and or Musicians stare at the camera, at least do it creatively. For example, Guns N'Roses Appetite For Destruction Cross Version has the Lead Singer and the Musicians/Backing Singers staring at the camera in animated skull form, which is actually cool.

02-25-2022, 06:27 AM	#2 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,992	While I agree that an album cover is - or was - often the first point at which I would be interested in a new artist, it doesn't necessarily have to be "exciting". It is, after all, only a picture, and I'd much rather the artist or label expend less effort on the cover and the music be great, than have a cool cover with terrible music. Some of the greatest albums have had simple covers, though I suppose it depends on what you consider a "lazy" one. Is this lazy? This? Or this? or this Eye of the beholder, as they say. __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

02-25-2022, 12:59 PM	#4 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,992	Also used by Metallica. __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

02-25-2022, 07:15 PM	#6 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,992	__________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

02-25-2022, 07:33 PM	#7 (permalink)
DriveYourCarDownToTheSea AllTheWhileYouChargeAFee Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Kansas City Posts: 1,174	__________________ Stop and find a pretty shell for her Beach Boys vs Beatles comparisons begin here

02-25-2022, 07:29 AM	#3 (permalink)
SGR No Ice In My Bourbon Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: /dev/null Posts: 4,326	How bout this one? Kanye West - Donda (2021) While I love a unique and interesting album cover, I think it's not at the top of many artist's or labels' priority list. Given that most of the time these days, the target market for new music is streaming or downloading their music digitally, an eye-catching album cover isn't as much of a necessity as it was when the standard way people were buying new music was browsing new records in a shop.

02-26-2022, 07:55 AM	#8 (permalink)
Lisnaholic ...here to hear... Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: He lives on Love Street Posts: 4,444	Yes, as a kid buying albums, some of those boring album covers used to annoy me too. I always thought, given the innovations and intricasies of the music inside, that the cover of Pet Sounds should've been better. Instead, it looks like they handed off the cover for an intern to knock up during his lunch break. __________________ "Am I enjoying this moment? I know of it and perhaps that is enough." - Sybille Bedford, 1953

02-26-2022, 01:12 PM	#10 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,992	Yeah, I heard it really got his goat. __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018