Covering Album Covers

General music discussion.
Post Reply
Marky Dread
User avatar
Messiah of the Milk Bar
Posts: 58880
Joined: 17 Jun 2008, 11:26am

Re: Covering Album Covers

Post by Marky Dread »

Dr. Medulla wrote:
31 Oct 2017, 1:58pm
Kory wrote:
31 Oct 2017, 1:45pm
Dr. Medulla wrote:
31 Oct 2017, 1:29pm
Kory wrote:
31 Oct 2017, 1:16pm
You're not wrong about the type, Doc—the issue here is that the band name and album title are given roughly the same prominence or "weight". The album title is actually even a little MORE important, which is weird for a debut album. It wouldn't be so bad with regular type, but because both are basically logos, it would have been nice to have some differentiation.
Is it generally a faux pas to use two different designs/fonts within the album title like that? Other than their close proximity, isn't it a signal that they are two separate elements?
I can't think of another album which does it like this, but I don't know if I'd call it a faux pas. I might not have chosen that font, but they might have been trying to make a statement, meaning the the two separate elements are intentional ("germfree" is clean and orderly, "adolescents," both in life and typographically, is not). I'd also have chosen to have the two words in the same color to pull it together more, but I think the play for garishness may have been intentional too (although I think the original used different colors from this anyway).
So common colour is a more important unifier than common typography?
Nope it's a mixture of both plus background image or colour
Image

Forces have been looting
My humanity
Curfews have been curbing
The end of liberty


We're the flowers in the dustbin...
No fuchsias for you.

"Without the common people you're nothing"

Nos Sumus Una Familia

Flex
User avatar
Mechano-Man of the Future
Posts: 35799
Joined: 15 Jun 2008, 2:50pm
Location: The Information Superhighway!

Re: Covering Album Covers

Post by Flex »

Here's an all-time great album cover imho. Any critiques?
Image
Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle like a bowl of soup
Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle like a rolling hoop
Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle like a ton of lead
Wiggle - you can raise the dead

Pex Lives!

Marky Dread
User avatar
Messiah of the Milk Bar
Posts: 58880
Joined: 17 Jun 2008, 11:26am

Re: Covering Album Covers

Post by Marky Dread »

Flex wrote:
31 Oct 2017, 2:09pm
Here's an all-time great album cover imho. Any critiques?
Image
Nope it's simple effective and punk.
Image

Forces have been looting
My humanity
Curfews have been curbing
The end of liberty


We're the flowers in the dustbin...
No fuchsias for you.

"Without the common people you're nothing"

Nos Sumus Una Familia

Marky Dread
User avatar
Messiah of the Milk Bar
Posts: 58880
Joined: 17 Jun 2008, 11:26am

Re: Covering Album Covers

Post by Marky Dread »

Marky Dread wrote:
31 Oct 2017, 2:11pm
Flex wrote:
31 Oct 2017, 2:09pm
Here's an all-time great album cover imho. Any critiques?
Image
Nope it's simple effective and punk.
The thing with punk it wasn't about setting barriers it was about defying rules etc. Its garish greens dayglo yellow lurid pink it's bold brash in your face it's fuck you art world.
Image

Forces have been looting
My humanity
Curfews have been curbing
The end of liberty


We're the flowers in the dustbin...
No fuchsias for you.

"Without the common people you're nothing"

Nos Sumus Una Familia

Dr. Medulla
User avatar
Atheistic Epileptic
Posts: 115975
Joined: 15 Jun 2008, 2:00pm
Location: Straight Banana, Idaho

Re: Covering Album Covers

Post by Dr. Medulla »

Flex wrote:
31 Oct 2017, 2:09pm
Here's an all-time great album cover imho. Any critiques?
Image
It certainly suggests something else entirely for punk. It's not aggressive or defiant. Muted green wash and hiding the face signals modesty if not defeat. That's not a cover that tells the consumer to be ready to kick some ass, but perhaps instead offering sympathy if not a downer. This ain't your older brother or sister's punk.
"I never doubted myself for a minute for I knew that my monkey-strong bowels were girded with strength, like the loins of a dragon ribboned with fat and the opulence of buffalo dung." - Richard Nixon, Checkers Speech, abandoned early draft

JennyB
User avatar
Mossad Van Driver
Posts: 22252
Joined: 16 Jun 2008, 1:13pm
Location: Moranjortsville

Re: Covering Album Covers

Post by JennyB »

Flex wrote:
31 Oct 2017, 2:09pm
Here's an all-time great album cover imho. Any critiques?
Image
Nope. None at all.
Got a Rake? Sure!

IMCT: Inane Middle-Class Twats - Dr. M

" *sigh* it's right when they throw the penis pump out the window." -Hoy

Marky Dread
User avatar
Messiah of the Milk Bar
Posts: 58880
Joined: 17 Jun 2008, 11:26am

Re: Covering Album Covers

Post by Marky Dread »

Dr. Medulla wrote:
31 Oct 2017, 2:27pm
Flex wrote:
31 Oct 2017, 2:09pm
Here's an all-time great album cover imho. Any critiques?
Image
It certainly suggests something else entirely for punk. It's not aggressive or defiant. Muted green wash and hiding the face signals modesty if not defeat. That's not a cover that tells the consumer to be ready to kick some ass, but perhaps instead offering sympathy if not a downer. This ain't your older brother or sister's punk.
Hence only a minor threat .Maybe his head is down in disbelief of the state of music.
Image

Forces have been looting
My humanity
Curfews have been curbing
The end of liberty


We're the flowers in the dustbin...
No fuchsias for you.

"Without the common people you're nothing"

Nos Sumus Una Familia

Kory
User avatar
Unknown Immortal
Posts: 17319
Joined: 17 Jun 2008, 1:42pm
Location: In the Discosphere

Re: Covering Album Covers

Post by Kory »

Dr. Medulla wrote:
31 Oct 2017, 1:58pm
Kory wrote:
31 Oct 2017, 1:45pm
Dr. Medulla wrote:
31 Oct 2017, 1:29pm
Kory wrote:
31 Oct 2017, 1:16pm
You're not wrong about the type, Doc—the issue here is that the band name and album title are given roughly the same prominence or "weight". The album title is actually even a little MORE important, which is weird for a debut album. It wouldn't be so bad with regular type, but because both are basically logos, it would have been nice to have some differentiation.
Is it generally a faux pas to use two different designs/fonts within the album title like that? Other than their close proximity, isn't it a signal that they are two separate elements?
I can't think of another album which does it like this, but I don't know if I'd call it a faux pas. I might not have chosen that font, but they might have been trying to make a statement, meaning the the two separate elements are intentional ("germfree" is clean and orderly, "adolescents," both in life and typographically, is not). I'd also have chosen to have the two words in the same color to pull it together more, but I think the play for garishness may have been intentional too (although I think the original used different colors from this anyway).
So common colour is a more important unifier than common typography?
It depends entirely on the application. These are all just tools in one's box for making design work, but I would say generally so. Design has a rich tradition of mixing fonts, and it's one of the hardest things to get right. But if the two lines were the same font, but still different colors, I would personally say that would be less effective that what they have now. But it all depends on context and intent. Different solutions in different environments, for sure.
"Suck our Earth dick, Martians!" —Doc

Marky Dread
User avatar
Messiah of the Milk Bar
Posts: 58880
Joined: 17 Jun 2008, 11:26am

Re: Covering Album Covers

Post by Marky Dread »

Kory wrote:
31 Oct 2017, 2:34pm
Dr. Medulla wrote:
31 Oct 2017, 1:58pm
Kory wrote:
31 Oct 2017, 1:45pm
Dr. Medulla wrote:
31 Oct 2017, 1:29pm
Kory wrote:
31 Oct 2017, 1:16pm
You're not wrong about the type, Doc—the issue here is that the band name and album title are given roughly the same prominence or "weight". The album title is actually even a little MORE important, which is weird for a debut album. It wouldn't be so bad with regular type, but because both are basically logos, it would have been nice to have some differentiation.
Is it generally a faux pas to use two different designs/fonts within the album title like that? Other than their close proximity, isn't it a signal that they are two separate elements?
I can't think of another album which does it like this, but I don't know if I'd call it a faux pas. I might not have chosen that font, but they might have been trying to make a statement, meaning the the two separate elements are intentional ("germfree" is clean and orderly, "adolescents," both in life and typographically, is not). I'd also have chosen to have the two words in the same color to pull it together more, but I think the play for garishness may have been intentional too (although I think the original used different colors from this anyway).
So common colour is a more important unifier than common typography?
It depends entirely on the application. These are all just tools in one's box for making design work, but I would say generally so. Design has a rich tradition of mixing fonts, and it's one of the hardest things to get right. But if the two lines were the same font, but still different colors, I would personally say that would be less effective that what they have now. But it all depends on context and intent. Different solutions in different environments, for sure.
It's not just about different type fonts and different color. Correct distancing/spacing are equally vital. Also knowng when not to include something.
Last edited by Marky Dread on 31 Oct 2017, 2:54pm, edited 1 time in total.
Image

Forces have been looting
My humanity
Curfews have been curbing
The end of liberty


We're the flowers in the dustbin...
No fuchsias for you.

"Without the common people you're nothing"

Nos Sumus Una Familia

Dr. Medulla
User avatar
Atheistic Epileptic
Posts: 115975
Joined: 15 Jun 2008, 2:00pm
Location: Straight Banana, Idaho

Re: Covering Album Covers

Post by Dr. Medulla »

Kory wrote:
31 Oct 2017, 2:34pm
Dr. Medulla wrote:
31 Oct 2017, 1:58pm
Kory wrote:
31 Oct 2017, 1:45pm
Dr. Medulla wrote:
31 Oct 2017, 1:29pm
Kory wrote:
31 Oct 2017, 1:16pm
You're not wrong about the type, Doc—the issue here is that the band name and album title are given roughly the same prominence or "weight". The album title is actually even a little MORE important, which is weird for a debut album. It wouldn't be so bad with regular type, but because both are basically logos, it would have been nice to have some differentiation.
Is it generally a faux pas to use two different designs/fonts within the album title like that? Other than their close proximity, isn't it a signal that they are two separate elements?
I can't think of another album which does it like this, but I don't know if I'd call it a faux pas. I might not have chosen that font, but they might have been trying to make a statement, meaning the the two separate elements are intentional ("germfree" is clean and orderly, "adolescents," both in life and typographically, is not). I'd also have chosen to have the two words in the same color to pull it together more, but I think the play for garishness may have been intentional too (although I think the original used different colors from this anyway).
So common colour is a more important unifier than common typography?
It depends entirely on the application. These are all just tools in one's box for making design work, but I would say generally so. Design has a rich tradition of mixing fonts, and it's one of the hardest things to get right. But if the two lines were the same font, but still different colors, I would personally say that would be less effective that what they have now. But it all depends on context and intent. Different solutions in different environments, for sure.
Sure sure, art and dogma shouldn't mingle. But that is quite enlightening to me because my instinct would be to think that consistent font type trumps all else. Then again, it's enlightening because that kind of work is so beyond my ken. I can bullshit interpret as well as the next phony, but designing something is just utterly foreign.
"I never doubted myself for a minute for I knew that my monkey-strong bowels were girded with strength, like the loins of a dragon ribboned with fat and the opulence of buffalo dung." - Richard Nixon, Checkers Speech, abandoned early draft

Marky Dread
User avatar
Messiah of the Milk Bar
Posts: 58880
Joined: 17 Jun 2008, 11:26am

Re: Covering Album Covers

Post by Marky Dread »

Dr. Medulla wrote:
31 Oct 2017, 2:52pm
Kory wrote:
31 Oct 2017, 2:34pm
Dr. Medulla wrote:
31 Oct 2017, 1:58pm
Kory wrote:
31 Oct 2017, 1:45pm
Dr. Medulla wrote:
31 Oct 2017, 1:29pm


Is it generally a faux pas to use two different designs/fonts within the album title like that? Other than their close proximity, isn't it a signal that they are two separate elements?
I can't think of another album which does it like this, but I don't know if I'd call it a faux pas. I might not have chosen that font, but they might have been trying to make a statement, meaning the the two separate elements are intentional ("germfree" is clean and orderly, "adolescents," both in life and typographically, is not). I'd also have chosen to have the two words in the same color to pull it together more, but I think the play for garishness may have been intentional too (although I think the original used different colors from this anyway).
So common colour is a more important unifier than common typography?
It depends entirely on the application. These are all just tools in one's box for making design work, but I would say generally so. Design has a rich tradition of mixing fonts, and it's one of the hardest things to get right. But if the two lines were the same font, but still different colors, I would personally say that would be less effective that what they have now. But it all depends on context and intent. Different solutions in different environments, for sure.
Sure sure, art and dogma shouldn't mingle. But that is quite enlightening to me because my instinct would be to think that consistent font type trumps all else. Then again, it's enlightening because that kind of work is so beyond my ken. I can bullshit interpret as well as the next phony, but designing something is just utterly foreign.
So easy grab a flag a pink one preferably and run to the top of the hill and place the flag up a flag pole. Then run back down the hill and take a picture.
Image
Image

Forces have been looting
My humanity
Curfews have been curbing
The end of liberty


We're the flowers in the dustbin...
No fuchsias for you.

"Without the common people you're nothing"

Nos Sumus Una Familia

Dr. Medulla
User avatar
Atheistic Epileptic
Posts: 115975
Joined: 15 Jun 2008, 2:00pm
Location: Straight Banana, Idaho

Re: Covering Album Covers

Post by Dr. Medulla »

Marky Dread wrote:
31 Oct 2017, 3:00pm
So easy grab a flag a pink one preferably and run to the top of the hill and place the flag up a flag pole. Then run back down the hill and take a picture.
The point is, that's just not how my mind works. That's why I've been quizzing Kory on this stuff, as someone trained in design. I'll never be able to do it myself, but I would like to understand a bit better the rationale behind choices.
"I never doubted myself for a minute for I knew that my monkey-strong bowels were girded with strength, like the loins of a dragon ribboned with fat and the opulence of buffalo dung." - Richard Nixon, Checkers Speech, abandoned early draft

Marky Dread
User avatar
Messiah of the Milk Bar
Posts: 58880
Joined: 17 Jun 2008, 11:26am

Re: Covering Album Covers

Post by Marky Dread »

Dr. Medulla wrote:
31 Oct 2017, 3:05pm
Marky Dread wrote:
31 Oct 2017, 3:00pm
So easy grab a flag a pink one preferably and run to the top of the hill and place the flag up a flag pole. Then run back down the hill and take a picture.
The point is, that's just not how my mind works. That's why I've been quizzing Kory on this stuff, as someone trained in design. I'll never be able to do it myself, but I would like to understand a bit better the rationale behind choices.
The thing is you would. Many tools to make it easy these days. It's the idea that matters just as much as the execution. If we are still talking about cover art. Business world is a different beast.
Image

Forces have been looting
My humanity
Curfews have been curbing
The end of liberty


We're the flowers in the dustbin...
No fuchsias for you.

"Without the common people you're nothing"

Nos Sumus Una Familia

Dr. Medulla
User avatar
Atheistic Epileptic
Posts: 115975
Joined: 15 Jun 2008, 2:00pm
Location: Straight Banana, Idaho

Re: Covering Album Covers

Post by Dr. Medulla »

Marky Dread wrote:
31 Oct 2017, 3:20pm
Dr. Medulla wrote:
31 Oct 2017, 3:05pm
Marky Dread wrote:
31 Oct 2017, 3:00pm
So easy grab a flag a pink one preferably and run to the top of the hill and place the flag up a flag pole. Then run back down the hill and take a picture.
The point is, that's just not how my mind works. That's why I've been quizzing Kory on this stuff, as someone trained in design. I'll never be able to do it myself, but I would like to understand a bit better the rationale behind choices.
The thing is you would. Many tools to make it easy these days. It's the idea that matters just as much as the execution. If we are still talking about cover art. Business world is a different beast.
It's not a question of tools—I've acquired all kinds of software—but I don't have that eye and instinct. I mean, I'm fine with that—one doesn't expect to be good at everything they'd like to be—but I'm curious enough that I like to know how the process works, the rationale behind it.
"I never doubted myself for a minute for I knew that my monkey-strong bowels were girded with strength, like the loins of a dragon ribboned with fat and the opulence of buffalo dung." - Richard Nixon, Checkers Speech, abandoned early draft

Marky Dread
User avatar
Messiah of the Milk Bar
Posts: 58880
Joined: 17 Jun 2008, 11:26am

Re: Covering Album Covers

Post by Marky Dread »

Dr. Medulla wrote:
31 Oct 2017, 3:30pm
Marky Dread wrote:
31 Oct 2017, 3:20pm
Dr. Medulla wrote:
31 Oct 2017, 3:05pm
Marky Dread wrote:
31 Oct 2017, 3:00pm
So easy grab a flag a pink one preferably and run to the top of the hill and place the flag up a flag pole. Then run back down the hill and take a picture.
The point is, that's just not how my mind works. That's why I've been quizzing Kory on this stuff, as someone trained in design. I'll never be able to do it myself, but I would like to understand a bit better the rationale behind choices.
The thing is you would. Many tools to make it easy these days. It's the idea that matters just as much as the execution. If we are still talking about cover art. Business world is a different beast.
It's not a question of tools—I've acquired all kinds of software—but I don't have that eye and instinct. I mean, I'm fine with that—one doesn't expect to be good at everything they'd like to be—but I'm curious enough that I like to know how the process works, the rationale behind it.
Sure but to say you can't do it is so defeatest. Especially as you are the guy who likes all those indie albums with odd covers. I mean anyone could pick up a camera point it at something you like a go click. A tree or a branch taken up close or pattern on a rock and there's your cover art. There are no rules to what looks good. That even counts regarding the font. Once an artist picks a font they then become associated with it. The Smiths are a prime example of this.
Image

Forces have been looting
My humanity
Curfews have been curbing
The end of liberty


We're the flowers in the dustbin...
No fuchsias for you.

"Without the common people you're nothing"

Nos Sumus Una Familia

Post Reply