Importance of artwork
- Thread starter Cervantes
- Start date
Meandor
Dark Elf
Music is always first, but I always like it when albums have good artwork. Sometimes I will check out a band because their artwork catches my eye, but I've noticed that sometimes (actually most of the time) that's not a good way to find good bands.
I've always found that a good-looking cover makes me want to buy the album much more. And yes, it does influence how I feel when listening to the music in someway, though I don't know how to explain it.
no country for old wainds
Active Member
- Nov 23, 2002
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Artwork:
- Tends to give an album a sense of completion, as long as it's fitting and not just a random 'dark' picture.
- Gives the listener a clearer idea of the mood/idea the creator is expressing - not unlike the lyrics, but often subtler. "A picture is worth a thousand words."
- Is good for giving a vague indication of what random albums are like, if I happen to be in a store choosing from albums I know little about.
- Is often deeply, deeply homoerotic.
While artwork is certainly one of the less important elements to take into account, all aspects of art should be taken into consideration for one to judge the piece as a whole, as has been said many times before.
- Tends to give an album a sense of completion, as long as it's fitting and not just a random 'dark' picture.
- Gives the listener a clearer idea of the mood/idea the creator is expressing - not unlike the lyrics, but often subtler. "A picture is worth a thousand words."
- Is good for giving a vague indication of what random albums are like, if I happen to be in a store choosing from albums I know little about.
- Is often deeply, deeply homoerotic.
While artwork is certainly one of the less important elements to take into account, all aspects of art should be taken into consideration for one to judge the piece as a whole, as has been said many times before.
MasterOLightning
Optimator
Artwork is important, as it gives you an impression of what something is going to sound like, even before hearing any of it. If the artwork is exceptionally well done, my expectations go way up. Mastodon's Leviathon has outstanding album art, and it does make the album seem more complete, more of a finished product, as stated above. A good album cover can express the mood of an entire album, i.e. Opeth's Morningrise, Leviathan, My Dying Bride's Songs of Darkness...etc. Boring album art usually will make me expect a lot less, and not be psyched for an album i.e. Anathema's cover art.
WNxScythe
Member
- May 16, 2004
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Yeah Guardian summs up how I feel about it well... I like "art" in general, not modern art crap (ok maybe it's not crap but it doesnt appeal to me), but I LOVE cool looking band artwork, since, when I'm not working out to the music, I'm usually leafing thru the lyrics and just starting at the artwork.
Obviously music comes first, but artwork DEFINITELY adds to it. gotta love metal art
Obviously music comes first, but artwork DEFINITELY adds to it. gotta love metal art
Oblivious Maximus
I am the worm
The cover art for Black Sabbath's debut was perfect. A scary, witch looking person, standing in front of a creppy looking house fit that album like a glove.
crimsonfloyd
Active Member
Artwork tends to set the tone for the imagery that flows through my head when listening to an album. If an album cover doesn't fit in well with the music and lyrics it really ruins the consistancy of the album, and tends to make the entire experience less enjoyable...
The_Evil_Gentleman
Power Metal Owns
The artwork of the album's cover can make you feel what are the colors and the atmosphere in the music.
POWERSLAVE. BEST. ARTWORK. EVAH!!!
POWERSLAVE. BEST. ARTWORK. EVAH!!!
Krilons Resa
Jerry's married?!
Seraphim Belial said:
judge books by their covers - its what the fuck their for!
HAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHA!
I agree with GoD and Crimsonfloyd basically summed up my feelings on the subject.
Life Sucks
and then you die
Artwork is not that important to me, to be honest. And in the case of the oop or rare CDs that I download and burn, it is completely irrelevant.
I find it a lot easier to part with my hard earned cash in a record store if I like the look of what I'm buying. It may sound shallow but it isn't something I can control. I have passed up buying Australasia by Pelican six or seven times simly because I cannot stand the artwork or the cheap, crappy digipack hydra head has given it.
AsModEe
also known as ass-mode
When I'm at the store and I don't find cds I planned to buy, I look for cds which have a cool cover and I give them a try before eventually buying them if the music is good.
Demilich
Remember
chris-o-fer
twatwaffle
If it's a band I never heard of, it affects my buying it greatly, but if I already dig the band, then I'll buy it and cool art is just extra icing.
chris-o-fer
twatwaffle
I think artwork is important, especially in Black Metal that handles often about dark even occult matters.
It sets also a precise image on the album, musical style, eventually intents of the artists (not to say first that the Logo also has its importance, at least to get what band it is about)
I noticed this importance right this week, when reviewing the Nefandus reedition, a very good album, originally presented with a thick booklet, with complete lyrics, pictures even a medieval painting .... well the reedition proposes this album in a poor layout, without any lyrics nor explanation of the contents, with an almost unreadable track list, and a couple of gloomy Black/white visions, that changes much.
It becomes just another generic album of whatever Black Metal, without any meaning. For example ...
DH update 07/11/2004 > http://newsletter.demonichorde.com
It sets also a precise image on the album, musical style, eventually intents of the artists (not to say first that the Logo also has its importance, at least to get what band it is about)
I noticed this importance right this week, when reviewing the Nefandus reedition, a very good album, originally presented with a thick booklet, with complete lyrics, pictures even a medieval painting .... well the reedition proposes this album in a poor layout, without any lyrics nor explanation of the contents, with an almost unreadable track list, and a couple of gloomy Black/white visions, that changes much.
It becomes just another generic album of whatever Black Metal, without any meaning. For example ...
DH update 07/11/2004 > http://newsletter.demonichorde.com
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