We could also be taught to not choose books by their covers, however are we all the time so variety to albums? In a sea of iconic cowl artwork designed by prolific artists, the significance of launch presentation can’t be understated. So, naturally, once we see musicians taking up the daunting job of designing the paintings themselves, we are able to’t assist however be impressed.
After all, there’s no scarcity of how through which these artists’ distinctive abilities could manifest. Some could draw or paint by hand, whereas others provide pictures or just scribble out a title. Regardless, it’s all the time the private contact that makes the album artwork stand out.
Learn extra: Tetrarch debut nightmarish video for heavy new single “Destructive Noise”
Listed below are 10 musicians who harnessed their visible artwork abilities to make their very own album covers.
Mariah Carey – Somebody’s Ugly Daughter
Mariah Carey made some critical headlines final yr when she revealed that she’d made a secret grunge album underneath the moniker Chick within the ’90s. After all, that’s not the place the surprises ended. Whereas selling her memoir, The Which means Of Mariah Carey, the prolific musician additionally famous that she’d made an unreleased music video for the mission and designed the paintings for the album, Somebody’s Ugly Daughter. Truthfully, we’re a little bit unhappy that we didn’t see any cockroaches on any of her mainstream items…
Ryan Mendez – Yellowcard
Yellowcard actually put the whole lot into their masterpiece of a remaining album. That, in fact, meant concentrating on their artistic power from all angles. Guitarist Ryan Mendez photographed the scene in Selden, Kansas, that may finally develop into the quilt artwork. It actually couldn’t have been any higher, capturing the somber tone that got here with their farewell.
David Bowie – Exterior
Given David Bowie‘s propensity for visible artwork, it’s stunning that he wasn’t solely chargeable for all of his album covers. Whereas he assumed design path for a lot of works, the visible credit on his information have been normally fairly in depth. Nonetheless, there have been some initiatives that he took into his personal arms. The quilt artwork for his 1995 album, Exterior, featured an acrylic self-portrait that he painted.
Learn extra: 10 scene album covers you received’t consider have been designed by the identical artist
Hannah Hooper – Little Mess
It’s hardly stunning {that a} artistic collective like Grouplove may sort out their album artwork wants in-house. And with a founding member as visually gifted as Hannah Hooper, why shouldn’t they? Functioning because the artwork director for the band, Hooper has contributed her portray abilities to most of their album covers. We’re notably taken by the appropriately chaotic nature of the Little Mess artwork, although.
Sherri DuPree-Bemis – Currents
Anybody who follows Eisley‘s Sherri DuPree-Bemis is aware of that she’s not only a vocal powerhouse however an extremely gifted visible artist as nicely. It’s not too stunning while you see the place she comes from. Her father and supervisor Boyd DuPree works as a graphic designer and has lent his abilities to numerous the band’s initiatives. The 2 truly collaborated on the paintings for Currents, with Sherri tackling the illustration that’s on the quilt.
John Gourley – In The Mountain In The Cloud
It doesn’t appear fairly truthful that anyone individual may very well be so gifted. Absolutely, although, the world is best off for John Gourley‘s seemingly boundless creativity. Not solely does he provide the immediately recognizable voice behind Portugal. The Man, however he’s additionally one of many arms chargeable for their iconic album artwork. The opposite is artist Austin Sellers, who companions with Gourley underneath the moniker The Improbable The. The duo designed the quilt for the band’s 2011 album, In The Mountain In The Cloud, amongst others.
Learn extra: QUIZ: Can you determine the album by simply the character on the quilt?
Kim Gordon – YOKOKIMTHURSTON
We figured from the bounce that the collaboration between Yoko Ono and Sonic Youth founders Kim Gordon and Thurston Moore would deliver some unbelievable inventive shows. Go determine they escalated even past the music… A longtime multidisciplinary artist, Gordon truly designed the YOKOKIMTHURSTON cowl artwork herself. It’s spray-painted, consider it or not.
Grimes – Geidi Primes
Subsequent up within the line of vastly gifted musicians who someway nonetheless handle to wow us is Grimes. Colour us all so completely stunned that the artwork angel herself ended up on this record… The sarcasm isn’t dripping as a result of she doesn’t deserve it—she undoubtedly does—however as a result of she’s a blazing emblem for multifaceted artistry. Whereas all of her quite a few album cowl designs are top-notch, we predict it’s her 2010 debut album, Geidi Primes, that finest exhibits off her distinctive model.
Billie Joe Armstrong – Father Of All Motherfuckers
OK, this one’s notably humorous. We are able to’t give Inexperienced Day‘s Billie Joe Armstrong sole credit score for the Father Of All… album cowl, seeing because it’s set on high of Chris Bilheimer‘s American Fool design. Apparently, Armstrong had initially simply scribbled the uncensored title, Father Of All Motherfuckers, onto the arm within the authentic piece. Then, within the curiosity of censoring the profanity, he slapped a depraved cool unicorn on high of it. Voilà.
Learn extra: 10 underrated album covers that may take you again to the 2000s
Gerard Method – Three Cheers For Candy Revenge
It really would have been a tragedy had Gerard Method‘s inventive abilities not accented My Chemical Romance‘s legacy. You in all probability received’t be stunned to be taught that he’s credited in artwork path and design for all 4 of their studio albums. Nonetheless, the quilt artwork for Three Cheers For Candy Revenge places his abilities entrance and heart.
What are a few of your favourite musician-designed album covers? Tell us within the feedback!
