This is The Strokes album Angles it was released March 22nd 2011. This is The Strokes fourth studio album.
Immediately as an audience you are drawn to this album cover. The bright colours and patterns engage you to notice the album cover. The actual picture seems to be an optical illusion, which if you are a fan of the band you would notice seems to be theme to the bands album covers. Previous albums have also included similar ideas with optical illusions.
The album is entitled angles and actually looking at the picture it is visible to see it is at an angle, leaning towards you. The cuboid structure in the is made into 3D which cohesively fits with the checkered optically illusive floor. The structure in the centre is also stands out once more with its florescent use of gradients of tone the pink, purple and blue used is really effective colour scheme.
Overall I think the album is extremely effective, in actual fact its doing all an album should, draw the audience in with its artwork, in some cases people might just buy the album because it looks interesting. The album ticks lots of creative boxes whilst still keeping within the normal conventions of an album cover with displaying the band name and title of the album clearly on the front.
As soon as you see this album artwork it is immediately eye-catching. The lead singer of The Maccabees, Orlando Weeks saw an artists work on a front cover of the magazine Art World. The name of this artist was Boo Ritson. She is a very unique and impressive artist, she paint people but not on canvas or a board, she literally coats people in paint. Her pictures are presented as photographs, the portraits in this case a group portrait is a double masquerade. Her subjects are coated in a sticky disguise which reveals the wet skin look. This look creates a statuesque effect and a plastic toy look.
So the band had to all be painted by Boo after discussing costume and composition the lead singer made a blog on the whole experience. As for the aesthetics of the album cover i think the look is exceptionally effective, an original piece of album artwork has been created successfully. The plain white banner with the Bands name and title of the album is clear to read and cohesively fits into the theme of the whole cover.
This album art can be deemed as pop art, art that emerges from popular culture and high art. Peter Blake is the artist who designed this album artwork, Blake is famous established, british pop artist. This album artwork is viewed as a revolutionary creation it broke boundaries of a work of art with its collage of famous figures. The flowers displaying the bands name relates to the time and lifestyle, the hippee nature of peace and love. The bass drum towards the back reveals circus writing which gives an element of fun, the drum itself codes music.
A large statement is made with The Beatles wearing vibrantly coloured military uniforms. This is actually mimicing the establishment. It defies and undermines the military ways. The bands actual positioning establishes their cult significance, in front of the many famous figures in the background.
Finally the actual background is a blue sky representing happiness; freedom; summer of love; exotic; peaceful; heaven; hope. And a palm tree that signifies the idea of an island, the band being untouchable, escaping the british norm and the sense of exotica.
- The album cover design establishes the genre of the music.
- It establishes the identity of artists.
- It established credibility of the artist and the album itself.
- It seeks to attract audience attention through striking imagery.
- It acts as a persuasive device drawing the audience in.
- The cover can be original, Inventive, Innovative, Unique or conventional depending on what is sought.
- Album cover use codes and conventions to communicate with the audience.
Oasis:Definitely Maybe
Conventions
- The album cover is quite conventional in terms of adhering to the central features expected.
- The band name appears at the top.
- The band themselves are featured.
- The album name also appears at the top.
Codes
- There are numerous codes at work with this album art.
- They are used in order to establish the bands importance, confidence, musicality and Identity.
General Analysis
- Photograph of Manchester city football player in a frame- Establishing they are from Manchester.
- Glass of wine placed on the floor- Sophistication, living life, party scene, rock+roll.
- B+H Gold cigarettes- Strong cigarettes, working class.
- Liam Gallagher- Lying down centrally, main focus, arrogant, establishing himself as a front man.
- The actual room- Upper class but still keeping the working class heritage in mind.
- Noel Gallagher- Holding guitar, establishing himself as the musician, songwriter, natural, laid back.
- Other Band Members- In the background, less focus.
- Globe- They have the world, ambition, opportunity.
- Watching Tv- They are everyday people, confident, happy, also the unity of the band in a family living room.
- Front style of the Band name- Simple, tabloid, black+white, equality.
- Album Title- Hand written, personal touch.
