December 2011 Archives

The end of 2011 means that it is time for the "Best of" and "Worse of" lists to be published online and in magazines. This year, there were not as many disgusting album covers as we have seen in the past. There were not any animal mutilations or covers featuring feces and other bodily wastes.

However, there were covers featuring amputated limbs, a mutilated woman, and a nose or two being picked. There were also a couple of covers that are noteworthy for being poorly designed and disappointing to fans. My list of The Worst Album Covers of 2011 appears below in order from 10 to 1.

The Cars were once known for producing albums with memorable album covers. Unfortunately, the cover for their first new album in decades was a major disappointment. It featured stock photo backgrounds and strange silhouettes of the surviving band members.

The third album by Arizona rock band The Maine credits four people for design, art direction and other tasks required to produce an album cover. I just want to know which one of them applied the lipstick.

The debut album by San Francisco electronic band The Limousines was self-released in 2010 and released by Dangerbird Records in 2011. It is the only album cover I have ever seen that features a spit bubble. The photos that my niece takes of her baby blowing them are cute. This? Not so much.

Released by Moshi Moshi Records, the Care Bear EP by Teeth is somewhat of a mystery. At first glance, the image of a hirsute statute with money falling around it seems wacky. On closer inspection, one notices that the anus of the male figure is very detailed and unusually large. Creepy? Yep.

I read a review that compared the cover art for Screws Get Loose by American rock band Those Darlins to those of The Smiths. No. Sorry.

The cover for the self-titled debut album by British electronic music duo You Love Her Coz She's Dead features a young woman with a safety pin jammed through her bloody lips. What else can I add besides the description? Uck! This makes nose picking look appealing.

The cover for the sixth studio album by American rock band Limp Bizkit is one of two revealed in 2011 that many fans immediately thought was a joke. The illustration by Wes Borland is certainly meant to be satirical. However, it is just a bit too weird to have been taken seriously.

Every year, I can count on some German band coming up with an objectionable album cover. Nuclear Raped Fuck Bomb by N.R.F.B. features an inexplicable photo of amputees who appear to be using donkeys as crutches. Add the blatant attempt to shock us with a title that combines sex and violence and we've got a third-place winner for the "Worst of" list.

There is not much that I can add to the hundreds of thousands of words that have been written about what is certainly the most controversial album cover of the year. When the cover for Lady Gaga's Born This Way was revealed online, the most common reaction was, "Where is the REAL cover?" Is it bad? Yes. Was it effective? Absolutely. The fact that it worked well as a marketing gimmick is the only thing that kept this monstrosity out of my #1 spot this year.

My choice for the worst album cover of 2011 is a for an album that celebrates rape, murder and a hatred for women. In that light, the cover featuring a woman who has been brutally murdered and dumped by the side of the road like garbage is fitting. The only question that remains is, "What kind of person buys this kind of thing?"

Below are six album covers that were preselected from this week's new music releases. They were chosen based on Amazon.com sales rank and for their noteworthy album cover designs. The last week of the year always consists of imports and odd U.S. releases. These are the last album covers for 2011.

Please vote for the cover that you think is the best of the bunch. The winner will be announced next Tuesday.

Devin Townsend Project - Contain Us		Iron Saviour - The Landing
Marianas Trench - Ever After		Meat Loaf - Hell in a Handbasket
One Direction - Up All Night		The Saturdays - On Your Radar

According to our AlbumArtExchange Blog poll, New Album by the Japanese experimental band Boris is the best best album cover for the week of December 20, 2011. The cover received 77% of the votes cast by our readers. That is such a landslide, the covers in second and third place really don't deserve to listed. 

The album was actually released in Japan back in March. It was made available as a digital download earlier this month. The CD and LP versions were released in the U.S. by Sargent House on December 20.

I was not able to find credits for the art director and the artist who created the cover. If anyone knows the details, feel free to post a comment.

Below are 10 noteworthy album and single covers that were posted to the AAX gallery last week. They were selected simply because I found them to be interesting or a valuable addition to the gallery. They are listed in no particular order.

Posted by: Aequi		Posted by: Aequi
Posted by: TotheLastShot		Posted by: 50poundnote
Posted by: Joseebus		Posted by: zeefritz
Posted by: Tim Barron		Posted by: Richey1977
Posted by: Da Guy		Posted by: Vocephus

For many people, watching the TBS marathon of the 1983 Christmas classic A Christmas Story has become a tradition. The marathon starts at 8:00 p.m. EST on Christmas Eve with the last showing at 6:00 p.m. on Christmas Day. Some people even watch every showing.

In 2009, the original soundtrack for the film was released on CD by Rhino Records. It includes the original score by Carl Zittrer and Paul Zaza and a version of Silent Night by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. The cover art features the star of the film, Peter Billingsley as Ralphie Parker.

Below are six album covers that were preselected from this week's new music releases. They were chosen based on Amazon.com sales rank and for their noteworthy album cover designs. Please vote for the cover that you think is the best of the bunch. The winner will be announced next Tuesday.

Boris - New Album		Common - The Dreamer / The Believer
Of Monsters and Men - Into the Woods		Roscoe Dash - J.U.I.C.E. EP
Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings - Soul Time!		Young Jeezy - TM:103 Hustlerz Ambition

A new TV commercial for iTunes and The Beatles features an animation of 12 of the band's album covers. It is drawing some minor criticism from fans of vinyl LPs who believe that digital music has put an end to the kind of cover art that is being used to promote it in this case. The video was uploaded to YouTube a few days ago and has received 3/4 of a million views with about 10 to 1 liking it. The animation is accompanied by The Beatles classic Magical Mystery Tour.

The AAX gallery includes over 800 scans and edited versions of the classic album covers and singles sleeves of The Beatles, including Magical Mystery Tour (right) and many rarities.

Below are 10 noteworthy album covers and single sleeves that were posted to the AAX gallery last week. They were selected simply because I found them to be interesting or a valuable addition to the gallery. They are listed in no particular order.

Posted by: Vocephus		Posted by: zeefritz
Posted by: Vocephus		Posted by: PhilR
Posted by: Aequi		Posted by: zeefritz
Posted by: Lazlo Nibble		Posted by: sampa1
Posted by: zeefritz		Posted by: Vocephus

South African hip hop crew Die Antwoord has revealed the artwork for their forthcoming album TEN$ION. The album is scheduled to be released on February 7, 2012.

The cover features a photograph some kind of demonic angel eating a bloody heart. Based on the description, one would imagine this cover deserving a "WTF?!" reaction. However, the styling and photography are good enough to make this album cover interesting rather than completely repulsive. 

Adam Lambert has revealed the cover art for his forthcoming single Better Than I Know Myself. The single will be released in digital format on December 20, 2011. It is the first single from Lambert's 2012 album, Trespassing. The album is scheduled to be released on March 20, 2012.

AAX user Mediocrates has been busy uploading some very interesting holiday album covers and single sleeves. Below are 10 that I think great additions to the gallery. Many of these covers have been carefully restored.

Below are six album covers that were preselected from this week's new music releases. They were chosen based on Amazon.com sales rank and for their noteworthy album cover designs. Please vote for the cover that you think is the best of the bunch. The winner will be announced next Tuesday.

Anthony Hamilton - Back to Love		Jackie Evancho - Heavenly Christmas
Nero - Welcome Reality		Rammstein - Made in Germany
Tori Amos - Night of Hunters Sin Palabras (Without Words)		Various Artists - Please, Please, Please: A Tribute to The Smiths

Here is a triple déjà vu moment delivered by the forthcoming single Everybody Talks by Neon Trees. The artwork has striking similarities to both Goldfrapp's Ride a White Horse and Cut Copy's 2004 album, Bright Like Neon Love. 

The heart-shaped sunglasses are unusual enough to spark a comparison between the singles. The red lips and the text on the glasses is more like the Cut Copy album. It is also interesting that the word "neon" is associated with two of the featured works.

According to our AlbumArtExchange Blog poll, the posthumous Amy Winehouse album, Lioness: Hidden Treasures, is the best album cover for the week of December 6, 2011. The album received 28% of the votes cast by our readers. Undun by The Roots was second with 25%. There was a tie for third between El Camino by The Black Keys and Chevelle's Hats Off to the Bull, which both received 16%.

The album cover is noteworthy for featuring a photograph taken by musician and photographer Bryan Adams. It is one of several taken a few years ago by Adams for a charity promotion.

Below are 10 noteworthy album covers and single sleeves that were posted to the AAX gallery last week. They were selected simply because I found them to be interesting or a valuable addition to the gallery. They are listed in no particular order.

Posted by: Da Guy		Posted by: Mediocrates
Posted by: Vocephus		Posted by: sampa1
Posted by: all4rock		Posted by: Lazlo Nibble
Posted by: zeefritz		Posted by: Vocephus
Posted by: Mediocrates		Posted by: Mediocrates

There's no question that Josie Cotton did a much better job with the "girl in a convertible" concept than Gloria Estefan's recent attempt. What, Gloria? No fishnet stockings? Even without the appropriate leggings, this was still a déjà vu moment. (And I think Santana's mom would definitely wear fishnets.)

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When I saw the artwork for the forthcoming album by electronic music duo The 2 Bears, I was intrigued enough to look them up on YouTube. I am very glad that I did. Their single Work is a great '90s retro number that I can't quit listening to. The video is very interesting, too. It features meat, sausages, phallic balloons and a couple of older bearded guys getting shaves. I've never seen anything quite like it. The album is scheduled to be released in the U.K. on January 30, 2012 and in the U.S. on February 7. It is currently available for preorder through Amazon.com and iTunes.

Below are six album covers that were preselected from this week's new music releases. They were chosen based on Amazon.com sales rank and for their noteworthy album cover designs. Please vote for the cover that you think is the best of the bunch. The winner will be announced next Tuesday.

Amy Winehouse - Lioness		The Black Keys - El Camino
Chevelle - Hats Off to the Bull		Korn - The Path of Totality
The Roots - Undun		Robin Thicke - Love After War

According to our AlbumArtExchange Blog poll Kylie Minogue's Aphrodite Les Folies Live in London is the best album cover for the week of November 29, 2011. The album cover received 32% of the votes cast by our readers. Adele's Live at the Royal Albert Hall came in second with 25%. The Singles Collection 2001-2011 by Gorillaz was third with 18%.

The winning cover features a collage of images from Minogue's spectacular live show that was produced under the creative direction of fashion designer and theater director William Baker. The show features costumes designed by Dolce & Gabbana. While the artwork may seem to be a complete fantasy, it actually compares closely to many of the live photos of the production on Baker's official website.

Below are 10 noteworthy album covers that were posted to the AAX gallery last week. They were selected simply because I found them to be interesting or a valuable addition to the gallery. They are listed in no particular order.

Posted by: PhilR		Posted by: Da Guy
Posted by: Mediocrates		Posted by: Mediocrates
Posted by: Mediocrates		Posted by: Vocephus
Posted by: Mediocrates		Posted by: Mediocrates
Posted by: Lazlo Nibble		Posted by: Scott H.

The soundtrack for the upcoming film The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is scheduled to be released in digital formats on December 9, 2011 and on CD on December 27. Preorders can be made on the official soundtrack website and Amazon.com. The digipak version includes three CDs and a six-panel insert. A limited edition autographed deluxe version that includes vinyl and a USB drive is being sold for $300.

The cover art for the soundtrack (below) is a simplified version of the movie poster (right). The various covers and inserts for the packaging shown on the website are a bit more interesting than the white silhouette being used for the primary artwork. It is certainly not as compelling as the movie poster. One difference between the poster and the album cover that bothers me quite a bit is that what is obviously a nose ring on the poster looks like a glob of snot hanging from the girl's nose in silhouette. It really is a bad design mistake. I'm going to call her "the girl with the booger nose."

As a promotion for the album, a six-track sampler is being made available as a free download. The sampler is also included with preorders made through the official website.

It has been quite a long time since the cover art for an album or single has given me a genuine WTF?! reaction. While several have made me scratch my head, I can't remember the last time I actually said those three words out loud in reaction to cover art. That is until this evening when I saw the cover for Canadian pop singer Anjulie's forthcoming single Stand Behind the Music.

The cover features a rather horrific photograph of the artist hanging by neck from a musical note. I do not believe that I have ever seen anything quite like it. I guess if my stylist had dressed me in bathing suit and knee-high boots I would probably consider suicide, too. The single is scheduled to be released on December 13, 2011.