FEATURE:
Brilliant by Design
PHOTO CREDIT: @guustimutant/Unsplash
2018’s Fifteen Best Albums Covers
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WE often think about the best songs and albums...
PHOTO CREDIT: @anko_/Unsplash
this time of year but do we really think about design and videos? The visual side of music is paramount and you cannot discount it. Maybe we do not put as much stock in album covers now that vinyl is not as common as decades past. I feel a great importance should be placed on album covers as they are your introduction to that particular work and an iconic example can endure for many years. So many artists get lazy with the cover and either do a rather uninspired portrait or some lazy design. It can be depressing to see it happen but I guess not every musician is design-minded and has that same flair. Now that we have seen most of the best albums arrive; here are fifteen incredible examples of album covers that catch the eye – almost more intense, colourful and intriguing than the music in the album itself! Have a look at these sense-catching, wonderful designs and you’ll agree there have been some rather fantastic covers...
PHOTO CREDIT: @sahuaromedia/Unsplash
THIS year.
ALL ALBUM COVERS: Getty Images
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Arctic Monkeys – Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino
Release Date: 11th May, 2018
Label: Domino
Producers: James Ford/Alex Turner
Stream: https://open.spotify.com/album/7v6FNgLDS8KmaWA1amUtqe?si=TqOe6m7-SNSDsjMwOe23Hw
Beach House – 7
Release Date: 11th May, 2018
Label: Sub Pop
Producers: Beach House/Sonic Boom
Stream: https://open.spotify.com/album/1xg88pe0CUD6UeE3fEnEkD?si=b_l7DSuZRLCatvdG_qaRlA
Christine and the Queens – Chris
Release Date: 21st September, 2018
Label: Because
Producers: Christine and the Queens/Cole M.G.N.
Stream: https://open.spotify.com/album/08LcAgUEeFV4tM3WPPpbYh?si=JVTGx6HmQPKpTk0Mx9I6sw
Editors - Violence
Release Date: 9th March, 2018
Label: PIAS
Producers: Leo Abrahams/Editors
Stream: https://open.spotify.com/album/6sA3KrkfzaNnbrrbry7vvH?si=BmsrPSnUTXuFos14z-0w9g
John Grant – Love Is Magic
Release Date: 12th October, 2018
Label: Bella Union
Stream: https://open.spotify.com/album/52txSNOPrQRdZqSICTz705?si=Tcw6uvYRTFqwUfdMZCb8fw
Brandi Carlile – By the Way, I Forgive You
Release Date: 16th February, 2018
Labels: Low Country Sound/Elektra
Producers: Dave Cobb/Shooter Jennings
Stream: https://open.spotify.com/album/2wDKBKgco7u3V1IWEK5V8l?si=fSKVcvaFTJu2M8EyZkVznw
Jake Shears – Jake Shears
Release Date: 10th August, 2018
Label: Freida Jean Records (Absolute UK)
Producers: Jake Shears/Kevin Ratterman/John Hume (co-production)
Stream: https://open.spotify.com/album/3hozs5UEKdbBvKk9SRVe9g?si=EmOUJtHCTlyzZRakjHYHyw
Mr. Fingers – Cerebral Hemispheres
Release Date: 13th April, 2018
Label: Alleviated Records
Stream: https://open.spotify.com/album/46sews77v3EoXe6PzYmYdD?si=aYzdK45KRrmJWmsCf7S84w
Sandra Kerr & John Faulkner – The Music from Bagpuss
Release Date: 16th November
Label: Earth Records
Stream: https://open.spotify.com/album/5RmL5jpUh4vpqaLBYcjOPY?si=SLKnldNuQvqg-ndAUGSapg
James – Living in Extraordinary Times
Release Date: 3rd August, 2018
Label: Infectious Music
Stream: https://open.spotify.com/album/7naQYNSUpzEPPXoqUBv6HU?si=_zwXfMk0QSaGNukts-7Emw
Maribou State – Kingdoms in Colour
Release Date: 7th September
Label: Counter Records
Stream: https://open.spotify.com/album/70FGsJuLXPQHYdKmEZZFq9?si=KQhW9qC6QL2CqWDJ7bDwWw
Georgia Anne Muldrow - Overload
Release Date: 26th October, 2018
Label: Brainfeeder
Stream: https://open.spotify.com/album/7y38i89ZhdCh0k9qsvamz8?si=Q6DRgOohTYGNJlwFYrzJTw
CHVRCHES – Love Is Dead
Release Date: 25th May, 2018
Label: Glassnote Records
Producers: Greg Kurstin/CHVRCHES/Steve Mac
Stream: https://open.spotify.com/album/2hshVOA4ULsMGHPDiUaDbJ?si=o25orlOQRCqxWeKpLIrXkA
Tracey Thorn - Record
Release Date: 2nd March, 2018
Label: Merge Records
Producer: Ewan Pearson
Stream: https://open.spotify.com/album/4rb4OC3d46iZld05PU927t?si=fg1auDuxRaOcQ3ue6YtUXA
Let’s Eat Grandma – I’m All Ears
Release Date: 29th June, 2018
Label: Transgressive Records
Producers: David Wrench/Sophie Hunter/Faris Badwan
Stream: https://open.spotify.com/album/5Bnhkya5cGltQFTrnC0grx?si=qW1McNDCTJ-9h-jfdU-w5A