Not only does digital music lack these things, I’m also worried that album covers for purely digital projects will more often be overlooked.
If you’ve ever listened to a vinyl record or a cassette tape, or even just looked at one and admired its ingenuity, then you know what I’m getting at. There’s something to be said for being able to hold the music as a product, and experience it in more ways that just auditory. Looking towards the future and the increase in purely digital music raises a lot of concerns with me. It’s the album art that always determines this, because it’s the album art that gave the first impression. When I think back on an album that I loved, the first thing I remember is its aesthetic the feeling and tone of the album that makes it entirely unique. It really ties the project together as a whole, and turns the album from a collection of songs into a musical journey. A lot of great albums use this to their advantage (such as the ones in the header image), and it makes a noticeable difference. I’m not saying the music isn’t good, I’m saying that the aesthetic of the cover opens up your mind to the music before you listen, and then continues to contribute to the overall feeling of the album. I honestly don’t think I would have cared for it much if I wasn’t already expecting it to be different and experimental. As a result, I interpreted it through that lens and ended up loving it. For example, when I listened to the Flume album I expected it to be interesting and experimental, just like the album cover. It sets a certain mood and interpretation for the album you listen to it differently than if it didn’t have an album cover. Hi This Is Flume – Flumeīeyond being eye-catching, I think an album cover has the power to enhance the music and add an entirely new element to the project. Sure the music is important, but nobody will listen to it if you can’t get their attention first. My point: it’s all about first impressions, just like meeting a new person. However, I listened to the entire album right when I saw it, that’s how intrigued I was by the cover. Even though I knew who Flume was and didn’t mind their music, I never really cared for it much. I’ve always been fascinated by the wide variety of art styles on album covers, but my passion was recently reignited when I saw the album cover for the new Flume mixtape Hi This Is Flume. It grabbed my attention and didn’t let go the vivid colors, the straight lines and framing of the picture, and most importantly the beautiful painting on the hood of the car. However, I would argue that the music is only half of the product, and that the music itself is almost entirely defined by its presentation.
People take it for granted, thinking of the physical representation as just a means to deliver the real product, the music. Great album art is incredibly powerful, but I feel as if it’s often overlooked by consumer and producer alike.
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