{"id":8132,"date":"2020-06-05T15:00:22","date_gmt":"2020-06-05T13:00:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/?p=8132"},"modified":"2020-09-22T16:46:33","modified_gmt":"2020-09-22T14:46:33","slug":"aesthetic-album-covers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/aesthetic-album-covers\/","title":{"rendered":"20 Inspiring Album Cover Designs"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wpb-content-wrapper\"><p>[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Audio and visual narratives inevitably go hand in hand. When you press the <em>play<\/em> button, your sonic adventure begins, and off you go to wherever the music will take you. As you immerse yourself in the melodies, the sounds begin to evoke a series of meaningful emotions and images within you.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]But there is one thing that can set the tone of your journey into the visual realm even before the music kicks in. And that\u2019s the accompanying album art. [\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]Album covers are an essential part of the music listening experience. They are the first thing that sets the tone for the album and gives listeners a hint of the musician\u2019s intent behind the record. While we may have moved on from listening to CDs to playing songs on streaming services, the cohesive cover art has remained a vital element that extends the connection between the artist and the listener.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]Album artwork is especially important for musicians who decide not to release their albums physically, but rather create online presentations for their music. Some of them combine different styles and disciplines to make proper multidisciplinary projects to promote their art to worldwide audiences. And nowadays, this\u2019s not so hard to do, what with the sharing power of the internet and a great <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/theme-category\/music-wordpress-themes\/\">music WordPress theme<\/a> on your side.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]While there may be a myriad of captivating album presentations online, we\u2019ve decided to look back on analogue recordings and their enthralling artwork that\u2019s unquestionably left its mark on design. In this article, we\u2019ll salute and talk about beautiful album covers, some of which have become equally or even more recognizable than the albums they illustrate. These covers demonstrate the stunning usage of surreal photography, <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/experimental-typefaces\/\">mesmerizing typography<\/a>, impressive illustrations, and other elements that make for an aesthetic album cover.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]Though the selection process was pretty tough, here is the list of 20 inspiring album cover designs that have left a long-lasting impression on me:[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;22px&#8221;]<ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item qodef-toc\">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\"><a href=\"#the-mars-volta\">The Mars Volta \u2013 De-Loused In The Comatorium<\/a><\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;5px&#8221;]<ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item qodef-toc\">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\"><a href=\"#todd-terje\">Todd Terje \u2013 It\u2019s Album Time<\/a><\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;5px&#8221;]<ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item qodef-toc\">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\"><a href=\"#miles-davis\">Miles Davis \u2013 Bitches Brew<\/a><\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;5px&#8221;]<ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item qodef-toc\">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\"><a href=\"#judas-priest\">Judas Priest \u2013 British Steel<\/a><\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;5px&#8221;]<ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item qodef-toc\">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\"><a href=\"#massive-attack\">Massive Attack \u2013 Mezzanine<\/a><\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;5px&#8221;]<ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item qodef-toc\">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\"><a href=\"#thundercat\">Thundercat \u2013 Drunk<\/a><\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;5px&#8221;]<ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item qodef-toc\">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\"><a href=\"#steve-lacy\">Steve Lacy \u2013 Apollo XXI<\/a><\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;5px&#8221;]<ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item qodef-toc\">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\"><a href=\"#tyler-the-creator\">Tyler the Creator \u2013 Igor<\/a><\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;5px&#8221;]<ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item qodef-toc\">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\"><a href=\"#run-the-jewels\">Run the Jewels \u2013 RTJ2<\/a><\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;5px&#8221;]<ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item qodef-toc\">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\"><a href=\"#boards-of-canada\">Boards of Canada \u2013 Geogaddi<\/a><\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;5px&#8221;]<ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item qodef-toc\">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\"><a href=\"#pink-floyd\">Pink Floyd \u2013 Animals<\/a><\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;5px&#8221;]<ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item qodef-toc\">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\"><a href=\"#the-beatles\">The Beatles \u2013 Sgt. Pepper\u2019s Lonely Hearts Club<\/a><\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;5px&#8221;]<ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item qodef-toc\">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\"><a href=\"#muse\">Muse \u2013 Absolution<\/a><\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;5px&#8221;]<ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item qodef-toc\">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\"><a href=\"#pearl-jam\">Pearl Jam \u2013 Ten<\/a><\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;5px&#8221;]<ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item qodef-toc\">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\"><a href=\"#audioslave\">Audioslave \u2013 Audioslave<\/a><\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;5px&#8221;]<ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item qodef-toc\">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\"><a href=\"#tame-impala\">Tame Impala \u2013 Currents<\/a><\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;5px&#8221;]<ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item qodef-toc\">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\"><a href=\"#daft-punk\">Daft Punk \u2013 Homework<\/a><\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;5px&#8221;]<ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item qodef-toc\">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\"><a href=\"#a-tribe-called-quest\">A Tribe Called Quest &#8211; The Low End Theory<\/a><\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;5px&#8221;]<ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item qodef-toc\">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\"><a href=\"#prince\">Prince \u2013 Purple Rain<\/a><\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;5px&#8221;]<ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item qodef-toc\">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\"><a href=\"#bjork\">Bj\u00f6rk \u2013 Utopia<\/a><\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;70px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"qodef-h4\"><a id=\"the-mars-volta\"><\/a>1. The Mars Volta \u2013 De-Loused In the Comatorium<\/h2>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;21px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-single-image-holder    \">\n    <div class=\"qodef-si-inner\" >\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"700\" src=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/1-The-Mars-Volta.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"The Mars Volta\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/1-The-Mars-Volta.jpg 700w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/1-The-Mars-Volta-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/1-The-Mars-Volta-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/1-The-Mars-Volta-650x650.jpg 650w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/1-The-Mars-Volta-620x620.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;38px&#8221;][vc_column_text]Did you ever get so hungover that you imagined you had a golden head? But your head wasn\u2019t connected to your shoulders. Instead, it was served on a plate, on an operating table in what seems a morgue. And you were screaming so loudly and intensely that light beams started to come out of your mouth. A distant symphony was buzzing through your ears, becoming louder and louder with each passing second. You could hear a mild tenor voice singing things you could barely understand. But then, the words became clearer. The voice was getting louder, and all of sudden, a rumble of chaos and dissonance took over and cracked your head wide open. <strong>You couldn\u2019t even begin to think about what was going on as you were already caught up in The Mars Volta\u2019s mesmerizing whirlwind. This trippy experience is exactly what their stunning De-Loused in the Comatorium album sleeve looks like.<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]The impressive artwork for their debut album was done by none other than Storm Thorgerson, the man behind numerous legendary album covers (some of which are featured on our list). <em>De-Loused in the Comatorium<\/em> is a concept album about a guy called Cerpin Taxt who overdosed on a mixture of rat poison and morphine, and then entered a week-long coma. This kind of cover art perfectly illustrates that experience.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;68px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"qodef-h4\"><a id=\"todd-terje\"><\/a>2. Todd Terje \u2013 It\u2019s Album Time<\/h2>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;21px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-single-image-holder    \">\n    <div class=\"qodef-si-inner\" >\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"700\" src=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/2-Todd-Terje.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"Todd Terje\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/2-Todd-Terje.jpg 700w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/2-Todd-Terje-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/2-Todd-Terje-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/2-Todd-Terje-650x650.jpg 650w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/2-Todd-Terje-620x620.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;38px&#8221;][vc_column_text]Wouldn\u2019t it be great to be this dreamy piano player? Picture this. You\u2019re sipping on a fruity cocktail, rehearsing a super cool nu-disco track you came up with last night after your meditation session. You\u2019re bundled up in your warm, cozy house, deep in the forest, somewhere far off north. Just look at him. He looks so satisfied, elbowed on his piano, thinking about the groovy future-disco track he\u2019s about to create.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]This beautiful album cover features the wonderful artwork of the Norwegian illustrator Bendik Kaltenborn. It\u2019s done in his unique and recognizable style, accompanied by amazing handwritten typography.<strong> It\u2019s <em>Album Time<\/em> is one of the most refreshing electro-disco albums of the past 10 years with an album cover that matches its grandeur<\/strong>.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;68px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"qodef-h4\"><a id=\"miles-davis\"><\/a>3. Miles Davis \u2013 Bitches Brew<\/h2>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;21px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-single-image-holder    \">\n    <div class=\"qodef-si-inner\" >\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"700\" src=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/3-Miles-Davis.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"Miles Davis\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/3-Miles-Davis.jpg 700w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/3-Miles-Davis-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/3-Miles-Davis-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/3-Miles-Davis-650x650.jpg 650w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/3-Miles-Davis-620x620.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;38px&#8221;][vc_column_text]Two polar opposites intertwined in a loving embrace, always and forever. Like day and night. Hope and despair. Dark and light. The future and the past. A yes and a no. Something and nothing. One defines the other. One would cease to exist without the other.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]<strong>The artwork for this album was done by the magnificent Mati Klarwein and it faithfully replicates the psychedelic nature of Miles Davis\u2019 music<\/strong>. The gatefold sleeve features a painting of contradictions. There\u2019s day and there\u2019s night. Pinkish-white and black hands, entwined in an inseparable union. They\u2019re completely different, but pointless one without the other.<br \/>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]If you haven\u2019t listened to this masterpiece, there\u2019s always time to do it. You won\u2019t regret it, that\u2019s for sure. Starting with In the <em>Silent Way<\/em>, Miles Davis took experimenting to a whole other level with his double album Bitches Brew, which is widely considered to be the cornerstone of the jazz-rock and jazz fusion genres.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;68px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"qodef-h4\"><a id=\"judas-priest\"><\/a>4. Judas Priest \u2013 British Steel<\/h2>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;21px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-single-image-holder    \">\n    <div class=\"qodef-si-inner\" >\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"700\" src=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/4-Judas-Priest.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"Judas Priest\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/4-Judas-Priest.jpg 700w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/4-Judas-Priest-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/4-Judas-Priest-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/4-Judas-Priest-650x650.jpg 650w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/4-Judas-Priest-620x620.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;38px&#8221;][vc_column_text]Riding the razor\u2019s edge, dressed in leather, wearing spike-studded jewelry, a priest has come to wreak havoc on the British \u201880s rock scene. He\u2019s on a half fire-breathing horse &#8211; half steaming-motorcycle hybrid, headbanging his way through the crowd, approaching his throne. And no one is brave enough to confront him. The time has come for him to write the history of the new wave of British heavy metal.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]This is exactly what Judas Priest did with their legendary <em>British Steel<\/em> album. <strong>The macabre cover photo, designed by Ros\u0142aw Szaybo, is nothing short of iconic<\/strong>. It depicts the hard rock and heavy metal iconography of the \u201870s and \u201880s with razor-sharp precision.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;68px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"qodef-h4\"><a id=\"massive-attack\"><\/a>5. Massive Attack &#8211; Mezzanine<\/h2>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;21px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-single-image-holder    \">\n    <div class=\"qodef-si-inner\" >\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"700\" src=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/5-Massive-Attack.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"Massive Attack\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/5-Massive-Attack.jpg 700w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/5-Massive-Attack-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/5-Massive-Attack-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/5-Massive-Attack-650x650.jpg 650w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/5-Massive-Attack-620x620.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;38px&#8221;][vc_column_text]It\u2019s a humid summer evening. You can hear an insect-like car noise. You\u2019re walking slowly through the city. The concrete is slightly pulsating with the distant vibration of some catchy bass line. The building walls are sweating. The air smells like perfume and skin. Garbage bags are left outside of the building and are waiting to be taken away. You picture what kind of lives people live inside the buildings you pass by. Your mind transports you into their homes. You see them dancing, laughing, grieving, throwing stuff around the house in violent tantrums. Then you walk through some narrow alley. You\u2019re a bit tense and afraid, but much more excited about all that the night has in store for you. This is the visual depiction of what <em>Mezzanine<\/em> sounds like.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]The simple, yet effective graphic solution on the album sleeve is such an iconic symbol of the \u201890s era. This is the picture that pops into my mind every time I get hit by \u201890s nostalgia. The cover was created by three artists &#8211; Robert Del Naja, Tom Hingston, and Nick Knight OBE. <strong>The way the stag beetle is framed, its placement on the cover, the terrific typography choice, and everything else about this cover just screams <em>cool<\/em>, which is the perfect synonym for Massive Attack and their music<\/strong>.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;68px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"qodef-h4\"><a id=\"thundercat\"><\/a>6. Thundercat \u2013 Drunk<\/h2>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;21px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-single-image-holder    \">\n    <div class=\"qodef-si-inner\" >\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"700\" src=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/6-Thundercat.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"Thundercat\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/6-Thundercat.jpg 700w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/6-Thundercat-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/6-Thundercat-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/6-Thundercat-650x650.jpg 650w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/6-Thundercat-620x620.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;38px&#8221;][vc_column_text]It\u2019s 5 pm and you\u2019re 17 years old. You told your parents you\u2019ll be back home by 1 am, but you couldn\u2019t bring yourself to leave. You were at a party, on a river island. One drink led to another. You ended up all on your own, with no boats to get you across the river. Luckily for you, you live just across the island. But you hope your parents won\u2019t see you. You\u2019re so hungover. You start to swim away, with your head slightly above the water, resembling a crocodile. You\u2019re sneaking up slowly, hoping your parents\u2019 prying eyes won\u2019t notice you. You\u2019re <strong>swimming in the waters of Thundercat\u2019s hypnotic album Drunk. The dizzying cover was designed by Adam Stover<\/strong>.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]Thundercat is one of the most interesting young musicians out there in terms of sheer virtuosity, whimsicalness, and originality. This album sounds like honey in your ears. There are more than 20 short songs on it, with features from Kendrick Lamar, Pharrell Williams, Kenny Loggins, and others.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;68px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"qodef-h4\"><a id=\"steve-lacy\"><\/a>7. Steve Lacy \u2013 Apollo XXI<\/h2>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;21px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-single-image-holder    \">\n    <div class=\"qodef-si-inner\" >\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"700\" src=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/7-Steve-Lacy.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"Steve Lacy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/7-Steve-Lacy.jpg 700w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/7-Steve-Lacy-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/7-Steve-Lacy-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/7-Steve-Lacy-650x650.jpg 650w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/7-Steve-Lacy-620x620.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;38px&#8221;][vc_column_text]Picture yourself standing on an invisible escalator, with orange handrails made of sofa fabric. You\u2019re surrounded with elements resembling the recognizable PowerPoint aesthetic. Occasionally, you notice puffy, gravity-defying guitars sliding down the handrails. They\u2019re not there to hurt you. They simply <strong>bring back the mellow nostalgia of school breaks, the smell of cold water and scorching-hot concrete. They bring you joy<\/strong>.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]This great photo was masterfully shot by the photographer Alan Lear. Steve Lacy is a rising star on the neo-soul and lo-fi indie scene, and Apollo XXI is his first full-length album. He\u2019s also a part of an incredible band called The Internet. If you haven\u2019t discovered them already, now would be a great time to do it.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;68px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"qodef-h4\"><a id=\"tyler-the-creator\"><\/a>8. Tyler the Creator \u2013 Igor<\/h2>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;21px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-single-image-holder    \">\n    <div class=\"qodef-si-inner\" >\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"700\" src=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/8-Tyler-the-Creator.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"Tyler the Creator\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/8-Tyler-the-Creator.jpg 700w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/8-Tyler-the-Creator-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/8-Tyler-the-Creator-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/8-Tyler-the-Creator-650x650.jpg 650w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/8-Tyler-the-Creator-620x620.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;38px&#8221;][vc_column_text]Simple yet gorgeous, vintage yet modern. [\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]I personally like this cover art because of its simplicity. Tyler\u2019s black and white portrait is roughly cut and placed onto the soft-pink background. The puzzled, hilarious, Lurch-like expression on his face looks as if he wants to ask &#8211; <em>How did I get here<\/em>? There\u2019s almost no typography on it at all. <strong>Everything about this album artwork reflects Tyler\u2019s whimsical nature perfectly. It\u2019s a killer album with a matching killer album cover<\/strong> created by Tyler\u2019s long-term collaborator Luis \u201cPancho\u201d Perez.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;68px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"qodef-h4\"><a id=\"run-the-jewels\"><\/a>9. Run the Jewels \u2013 RTJ2<\/h2>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;21px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-single-image-holder    \">\n    <div class=\"qodef-si-inner\" >\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"700\" src=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/9-Run-the-Jewels.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"Run the Jewels\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/9-Run-the-Jewels.jpg 700w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/9-Run-the-Jewels-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/9-Run-the-Jewels-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/9-Run-the-Jewels-650x650.jpg 650w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/9-Run-the-Jewels-620x620.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;38px&#8221;][vc_column_text]Blunt. Uncompromising. Harsh. Brutal. Relentless. Determined. Unbending. Tough like a brick wall. [\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]Merciless. Rude. Savage. Vicious. Ruthless. Ferocious. Inhuman. Hip. Hop. Run. The. Jewels.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]This is what the 2nd album from the Run the Jewels duo, comprised of the phenomenal EL-P and Killer Mike, sounds like. <strong>It\u2019s hip-hop at its finest, like you\u2019ve never heard it before, filled with gritty, hyper-produced electronic beats. The striking cover art perfectly suits its vibe<\/strong>. The eye-catching logo was created by Nick Gazin.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;68px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"qodef-h4\"><a id=\"boards-of-canada\"><\/a>10. Boards of Canada &#8211; Geogaddi<\/h2>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;21px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-single-image-holder  qodef-has-shadow qodef-has-border \">\n    <div class=\"qodef-si-inner\" >\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"700\" src=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/10-Boards-of-Canada.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"Boards of Canada\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/10-Boards-of-Canada.jpg 700w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/10-Boards-of-Canada-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/10-Boards-of-Canada-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/10-Boards-of-Canada-650x650.jpg 650w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/10-Boards-of-Canada-620x620.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;38px&#8221;][vc_column_text]It\u2019s a perfect, late spring morning. You\u2019re lying comfortably on your couch, barely awake. You slowly open your eyelids. You still can\u2019t see clearly. Everything looks blurry. You feel like you\u2019re watching the magical play of the morning flickering lights that carry the warmth and peace your body needs to face the day. It\u2019s pure bliss.<br \/>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]The kaleidoscopic album cover wonderfully matches the music of the Scottish electronic duo Boards of Canada. It consists of images recorded by the band members themselves. <strong>The calmness this artwork evokes, combined with the beautifully sampled voices and an overall organic approach to electronic music, takes you places you and your mind simply have to wander through<\/strong>.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;68px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"qodef-h4\"><a id=\"pink-floyd\"><\/a>11. Pink Floyd \u2013 Animals<\/h2>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;21px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-single-image-holder    \">\n    <div class=\"qodef-si-inner\" >\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"700\" src=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/11-Pink-Floyd.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"Pink Floyd\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/11-Pink-Floyd.jpg 700w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/11-Pink-Floyd-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/11-Pink-Floyd-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/11-Pink-Floyd-650x650.jpg 650w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/11-Pink-Floyd-620x620.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;38px&#8221;][vc_column_text]While there\u2019s far more legendary artwork related to the graphic identity of Pink Floyd, I adore this photo. <strong>The mood of the <em>Animals<\/em> cover is stunning. The lightning is perfect, with beautiful skies contrasting the foul industrial complex<\/strong>. A helium pig is flying into the sky, symbolizing the departure of capitalist oppressors and letting everyone know that better days are coming. The album cover was designed by Storm Thorgeson and Aubrey Powell.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]When I look at this photo, I can hear the Twin Peaks theme song playing in my head. This tune goes along great with the idyllic atmosphere of the photo, but that could just be me.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;68px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"qodef-h4\"><a id=\"the-beatles\"><\/a>12. The Beatles \u2013 Sgt. Pepper\u2019s Lonely Hearts Club<\/h2>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;21px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-single-image-holder    \">\n    <div class=\"qodef-si-inner\" >\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"700\" src=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/12-The-Beatles.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"The Beatles\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/12-The-Beatles.jpg 700w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/12-The-Beatles-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/12-The-Beatles-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/12-The-Beatles-650x650.jpg 650w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/12-The-Beatles-620x620.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;38px&#8221;][vc_column_text]You\u2019re preparing for a photoshoot, the long-awaited family portrait. And your family is huge. You\u2019re on the umptieth take and you had to redo the shot countless times already. It seems like your family is growing larger by the minute. There\u2019s your mother\u2019s second cousin Marilyn in a stunning golden dress, uncle P, cousins Darwin and Dylan whom you haven\u2019t seen in ages. They\u2019re waving back at you and you\u2019re thinking you could have an interesting conversation with them once the photo shoot is over. Everybody\u2019s in their positions. Here it comes, once again \u2013 <em>Say cheese, everyone<\/em>! *click* You hear the camera shutter sound once more.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]This iconic album cover was designed by Jann Haworth and Peter Blake.<strong> It\u2019s an amazing collage with incredible typographic solutions. It features prominent figures from pop culture and history<\/strong>. The members of the Beatles are on it two times \u2013 in one version they\u2019re wearing their regular attire and in the second they have military uniforms on. Everything about this piece of art is amazing.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;68px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"qodef-h4\"><a id=\"muse\"><\/a>13. Muse \u2013 Absolution<\/h2>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;21px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-single-image-holder    \">\n    <div class=\"qodef-si-inner\" >\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"700\" src=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/13-Muse.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"Muse\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/13-Muse.jpg 700w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/13-Muse-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/13-Muse-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/13-Muse-650x650.jpg 650w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/13-Muse-620x620.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;38px&#8221;][vc_column_text]<strong>Imagine being stuck in the strangest dream. You\u2019re in a barren land, wandering around, with no signs to point the way<\/strong>. You look at the ground and you notice a gas mask. <em>\u201cBut I can breathe without it! Why is it lying on the ground?\u201d<\/em>, you think to yourself. Just as you\u2019re about to pick it up, you see shadows on the ground. Those are the shadows of people falling from the sky. You look up incredulous to find out what\u2019s going on. And what do you see? I surely wouldn\u2019t know, as that\u2019s your dream after all.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]This dream sums up the arcane <em>Absolution<\/em> cover created by Storm Thorgerson. The album reached number one on the UK charts, and it stands as one of the best Muse albums with hits such as <em>Time is running out, Hysteria, Sing for Absolution<\/em>, etc.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;68px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"qodef-h4\"><a id=\"pearl-jam\"><\/a>14. Pearl Jam \u2013 Ten<\/h2>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;21px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-single-image-holder    \">\n    <div class=\"qodef-si-inner\" >\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"700\" src=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/14-Pearl-Jam.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"Pearl Jam\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/14-Pearl-Jam.jpg 700w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/14-Pearl-Jam-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/14-Pearl-Jam-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/14-Pearl-Jam-650x650.jpg 650w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/14-Pearl-Jam-620x620.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;38px&#8221;][vc_column_text]School\u2019s almost over and you and your mates are preparing for the last summer together. <strong>You\u2019re going out of town for good, even though you never thought that would happen. You want to make your last break together worthwhile<\/strong>. That\u2019s what looking at the Pearl Jam\u2019s <em>Ten<\/em> cover feels like. The interesting photo was directed by their bass player Jeff Ament.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]Something about the color of this artwork, the brick wall in the background, and the band high-fiving each other takes me back to summers when I was a kid and my older brother was on summer break, hanging around with his friends. They started a band and I was one of their very few fans. That was also the time when I first saw the video for <em>Jeremy<\/em>, one of the most popular songs from this terrific album, which modelled my music taste later in life.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;68px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"qodef-h4\"><a id=\"audioslave\"><\/a>15. Audioslave \u2013 Audioslave<\/h2>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;21px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-single-image-holder    \">\n    <div class=\"qodef-si-inner\" >\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"700\" src=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/15-Audioslave.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"Audioslave\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/15-Audioslave.jpg 700w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/15-Audioslave-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/15-Audioslave-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/15-Audioslave-650x650.jpg 650w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/15-Audioslave-620x620.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;38px&#8221;][vc_column_text]There\u2019s a comet heading towards the Earth. It\u2019s a shining, glossy fireball, moving in the beat of a captivating bass line. All of a sudden, a loud rumble comes through, awakening every freedom-starved mind once and for all. It\u2019s a holy flame of insubordination, a glowing spirit of enlightenment, the thing we never knew we needed. Seasoned with the high-pitched, painful screams of deliverance, we await for it to purge the political corruption and give power back to the people.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]The artwork for Audislave\u2019s self-titled debut album is another example of Storm Thorgerson\u2019s masterfulness. It features <strong>an image of a tall flame, placed on a desolate land, while a tiny human observes it. This flame is actually the band\u2019s logo and it symbolizes the eternal flame<\/strong>.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;68px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"qodef-h4\"><a id=\"tame-impala\"><\/a>16. Tame Impala \u2013 Currents<\/h2>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;21px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-single-image-holder    \">\n    <div class=\"qodef-si-inner\" >\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"700\" src=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/16-Tame-Impala.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"Tame Impala\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/16-Tame-Impala.jpg 700w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/16-Tame-Impala-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/16-Tame-Impala-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/16-Tame-Impala-650x650.jpg 650w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/16-Tame-Impala-620x620.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;38px&#8221;][vc_column_text]Change is an everlasting process. It\u2019s everywhere around us and within ourselves, too. But, it\u2019s particularly evident in the evolution of all living creatures and in the way they grow from microscopic to significantly larger lifeforms. Many of those changes are the result of the long adaptation to the currents of life. Sometimes though, the best changes are made when we completely ignore the lifestream. Then we feel no pain of the harsh obstacles that may come our way. Instead, we become the flow, the stream, the river of life itself.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]The songs on <em>Currents<\/em> are all about change, and this is the album on which the band experimented with electronic sounds. <strong>The terrific 3D artwork created by the designer Robert Beatty depicts an oscillating flow that perfectly matches the album\u2019s main theme<\/strong>.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;68px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"qodef-h4\"><a id=\"daft-punk\"><\/a>17. Daft Punk \u2013 Homework<\/h2>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;21px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-single-image-holder    \">\n    <div class=\"qodef-si-inner\" >\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"700\" src=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/17-Daft-Punk.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"Daft Punk\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/17-Daft-Punk.jpg 700w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/17-Daft-Punk-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/17-Daft-Punk-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/17-Daft-Punk-650x650.jpg 650w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/17-Daft-Punk-620x620.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;38px&#8221;][vc_column_text]One of the first music videos that got stuck inside my head was Daft Punk\u2019s <em>Around the World<\/em>, from their majestic <em>Homework<\/em> record. The simplicity of the set, lovely costumes, fantastic choreography, all of that looked perfect in my young mind, and to this day, my impression hasn\u2019t changed.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]The <em>Homework<\/em> cover, photographed by Nicolas Hidiroglou is not any different, except that it carries a bit of a vintage vibe. <strong>The image consists of what seems to be a rock\u2019n\u2019roll jacket with the Daft Punk logo on it. Overall, this is a glorious example of a simple yet effective piece of album artwork<\/strong>.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;68px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"qodef-h4\"><a id=\"a-tribe-called-quest\"><\/a>18. A Tribe Called Quest \u2013 The Low End Theory<\/h2>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;21px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-single-image-holder    \">\n    <div class=\"qodef-si-inner\" >\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"700\" src=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/18-A-Tribe-Called-Quest.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"A Tribe Called Quest\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/18-A-Tribe-Called-Quest.jpg 700w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/18-A-Tribe-Called-Quest-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/18-A-Tribe-Called-Quest-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/18-A-Tribe-Called-Quest-650x650.jpg 650w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/18-A-Tribe-Called-Quest-620x620.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;38px&#8221;][vc_column_text]For me, <strong>this album cover screams New York just as much as Spike Lee\u2019s 1989 drama, <em>Do the Right Thing<\/em><\/strong>. The artist behind it is Jean Kelly, a.k.a. ZombArt JK. The image makes you think of the streets of Brooklyn, boom boxes, chilling outside, of things typical of the late 80\u2019s &#8211; early \u201890s. A <em>Tribe Called Quest<\/em> simply personifies coolness \u2013 it\u2019s in the way they rap, their laid back approach to writing puns, and their overall aesthetic.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;68px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"qodef-h4\"><a id=\"prince\"><\/a>19. Prince \u2013 Purple Rain<\/h2>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;21px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-single-image-holder    \">\n    <div class=\"qodef-si-inner\" >\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"700\" src=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/19-Prince.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"Prince\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/19-Prince.jpg 700w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/19-Prince-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/19-Prince-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/19-Prince-650x650.jpg 650w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/19-Prince-620x620.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;38px&#8221;][vc_column_text]This album cover is the work of the art director Laura LiPuma and photographers Ed Thrasher and Stuart Douglas Watson. <strong>The whole thing looks just the right amount of cheesy and a little bit over the top<\/strong>. There\u2019s Prince on a motorcycle, while the smoke is coming out of the New York sewers and his darling is reluctantly telling him goodbye. The lights from her room are engulfing the left side of the photograph, while the front of the image resembles an \u201880s action flick. Flowers are a cute touch to the image, even though they seem kind of offbeat compared to all the other elements of the cover. The authors probably had to think of something to get the square image format, without having to redo everything.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;68px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"qodef-h4\"><a id=\"bjork\"><\/a>20. Bj\u00f6rk \u2013 Utopia<\/h2>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;21px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-single-image-holder    \">\n    <div class=\"qodef-si-inner\" >\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"700\" src=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/20-Bjork.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"Bj\u00f6rk\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/20-Bjork.jpg 700w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/20-Bjork-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/20-Bjork-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/20-Bjork-650x650.jpg 650w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/20-Bjork-620x620.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;38px&#8221;][vc_column_text]This surreal artwork was made by the London based artist, animator, and musician Jesse Kanda. It finally showed us Bj\u00f6rk in her true form. <strong>Deep down, we always knew she wasn\u2019t entirely from our planet, and now we got the confirmation for it<\/strong>. She comes ready to conquer everything and everyone. Just like the Pied Piper of Hamelin with her extraterrestrial flute, Bj\u00f6rk, too, brings us harmonies and beats unlike anything we\u2019ve heard before. She\u2019s always been authentic, and a bit strange. Long may she reign![\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;68px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"qodef-h4\">Conclusion<\/h2>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]As the albums covers from our list demonstrate, a compelling piece of artwork can take on a life of its own and capture the attention of those even outside your fan base. When creating cover art, what matters most is to take your time while doing it. Plan out the design and make sure all the parts are working together to convey the overall emotion of your record. The proper artwork can add flavor to your music, deepen the emotional connection with your crowd, and make your creativity shine even brighter.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Album art has the power to take any listening experience to a whole new level. In this roundup, we\u2019ll share with you the list of twenty aesthetic album covers, some of which have even become larger than the albums they illustrate<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7220,"featured_media":8156,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[30,40],"class_list":["post-8132","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-design","tag-creative","tag-inspiration"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8132","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7220"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8132"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8132\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8156"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8132"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8132"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8132"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}