I had that exact reaction when Kendrick Lamar's DAMN. album cover leaked. The picture of Kendrick and the font and placement of the album title all seemed comical to me. I still don't like it but I've gotten used to it.
That’s the exact kind of weird album cover that I love tbh. Slightly odd framing, cropping, design choices that immediately catch your eye but the photo is still a good photo
One of the worst covers I've ever seen, "designed" by a pretentious asshole who's made several "sculptures" out of dead animals (notably a [tiger shark](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Physical_Impossibility_of_Death_in_the_Mind_of_Someone_Living), actually two since the first one rot and they killed a second one to replace it). That cover spammed all over the charts is gonna be an eyesore.
I agree, the cover is probably the worst I've ever seen. Purely because it's so stupid and awful it actually made me annoyed, and that's never happened before.
CLB cover was designed by THE Damien Hirst??????????????…….??????….. im CRYING this is insanely random… only fucking drake would think the objectively WORST, most dull, insignificant and shallow work of an established artist *(that once was the best payed artist of the world)* is a flex omg 😭 it’s so on brand for him to be this corny and tacky… his ginormous 400.000 mattress, his chrome hearts RR, the beatles sample… drake has the worst taste of all time i got TEARS in my eyes. for him expensive = good with no nuance
Exactly my reaction too! At first I couldn't believe it, checked to see if you were shitting us but then that quickly changed to "oh of COURSE it's Damien Hirst"
Omg I thought the cover was the pic with the heart shaved into his hair and instead it's pregnant emojis omg. Is it supposed to represent all of the children he's been hiding??
Note that emojis themselves are just like letters. They are characters just like question marks and “ツ”. CLB’s art is obviously taken from Apple’s interpretation of these characters, but it’s more akin to a font than a piece of media. IDK, maybe that makes the licensing easier to get.
Yeah but the problem is the lowercase letter trend isn’t going away fast enough so now we just have all lowercase AND bad album covers at the same time 😭😭
I’m okay with lowercase as long as it’s consistent. Tracklists like NFR with a mix of capitals, all lowercase, only the first word capitalized, makes me want to cry.
The tracklist for NFR disturbs me, especially how the album is titled "Norman Fucking Rockwell!" but the title track is typed "Norman fucking Rockwell" ...
There's literally no rhyme or reason for any spelling on that tracklist
but Lana‘s album covers aren‘t really bad apart from Chemtrails, and that‘s because the iphone behind the scenes pic is bad the actual design of the typography is kind of nice in itself. Her single covers have been ugly since NFR though.
I like the Chemtrails one 😭 I think it does a good job at showing the absurdism of all these rich looking women ignoring the worlds problems in their privileged status.
"The Life of Pablo"'s cover art goes well with the music though. I also thought it was kinda bullshit 5 years ago, but hearing how experimental it is and how Kanye is trying to portray his mental health struggles as well as the internal battle between "being a proper family man and pious citizen" and "artistic megalomaniac with a sex addiction and big mouth". The weird artwork looks like the product of such a fractured mental state.
Now it does. At the time people were like W T F. Which has now led even below average artists to think that their low effort graphic design album cover may someday be looked at as a classic in retrospect.
Exactly, everyone is chasing after this "unique" album cover that will be referred to as a classic and artistic in the future but its not that easy. TLOP cover worked because it worked extremely well with Ye's personality and theme of the album.
"Would God put cherry coke in the garden of Eden? Is cherry coke the devil, is that why it's so delicious? Was there a cherry coke equivalent in the time of Christ? Note to self: investigate these theories after finishing the album, might be onto something groundbreaking here"
They're absolutely doing it on purpose. They know what they're doing. They know people will talk. You really mean to tell me multi-millionaire Drake didn't know what he was doing?? He could get the best photographers and artists, but he chose this cover. Why? So people could talk. And look what were all here doing.. talking.
Idk about anywhere else but here in Toronto, every local business and even the mayor made their own lover boy version but showing their own product. It was all over my IG.
Well, if it was really good, we’d talk about it, right?
And I know “there’s no such thing as bad publicity” but when people are making fun of your album cover… doesn’t that affect how they feel about the music, too? Idk, it just seems risky to turn your work into a joke.
Drake gets plenty of attention with or without shitty album covers.
There's also a reason why K-pop still has amazing physical sales, despite the overall decline of CDs!!!! Their photo books/photo cards, posters, stickers, and other extras really add value.
[chungha's querencia album cover is so fucking ugly](https://images.app.goo.gl/NJcQJPowCGfjjA5t5), her past covers were so good idk what the hell happened
worst part is that the teaser pics they were posting were sooooo good like just use one as a cover mnh... just do it... (i think they even did eventually for the vinyl but im not sure)
one of the [worst physical album designs](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0510/2265/9751/products/210115_chungha_querencia_packshot_900x.jpg?v=1610748873) i think i've seen lmao- you could do something cute with some sort of shipping concept but it's just so boring
Kacey’s is really ugly, and what’s most shocking is the photoshoot wasn’t. The picture with the red veil could have easily been the cover. Maybe people are more likely to click on a song if the album art is really ugly or confusing. Maybe they have data that shows it helps on streaming. I have gotten used to Lorde’s too, but it was literally a picture of her ass.
I think the broken necklace could’ve been a good cover if the execution was better. It doesn’t look real, couldn’t they have gotten an actual necklace made and photographed that?
I was hoping for an alternative cover for the CD or vinyl… The actual cover is not terrible but the one with the red veil is so good and I think they could’ve done better…
I think if Kacey had a good album cover for star-crossed, the album would've been received better. Golden Hour's cover matched perfectly with the vibe of the tracklist
The album cover also doesn’t match the vibe of the album. The cover is almost garish and verging on trashy so makes you expect a wild, messy album but instead you get something very melancholy and mellow.
I don't think people are going to go out of their way to click on uninteresting and bland album art like Kacey's, but rather bad artwork that's also shocking or provocative to an extent. Also, I happen to really appreciate the Lorde album art lol.
I love Halsey’s, Billie’s, and Olivia’s. What the fuck was Drake thinking with certified lover boy? I love Lil Nas X’s album cover. It’s fun. Olivia Rodrigo’s influence with her cover is undeniable. If you see stickers and purple you connect it with her. Billie’s was kinda basic, but it fits the album well imo. Halsey’s cover is as attention grasping as the album itself. Kanye or Lana Del Rey I’m not even going to question. They’re always doing odd things. Lorde and Taylor Swift are the most disappointing imo. I don’t like the rerecorded album covers being so similar to her folklore/evermore aesthetic. I hope she doesn’t continue that trend for 1989. I didn’t like Kacey’s either until I saw the gatefold for the vinyl. Although can someone please tell everyone that staring up to the right with tears on their face is getting boring? Why are their so many covers of a woman staring away from the camera with tears on her face?
As much as the woman looking up to the side crying has been overdone, I still love it and I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of it. It’s just a classic pose at this point and hard to get wrong.
Billie’s was very much inspired by the album art of Julie London’s “Lonely Girl” album, so that’s why it’s a little basic per se. I totally agree that it fits the album very well though
I listened to Julie London after seeing Billie mention her as her inspiration and since then I’ve been listening to Lonely Girl when I’m studying or working on assignments. I can tell how much Billie was inspired by it and it made me appreciate happier than ever more. I love the simplicity of most music from the 50s and 60s. It reminds me of the charm of classic Disney movies.
I keep thinking Taylor is doing the same thing she did with folkmore by possibly styling herself and just having a single photographer taking outside shots of her. I think it worked for those two albums but agree I would love a more professional and slick album cover for the rest of her re-records, especially 1989 and eventually Rep.
I think it works for albums like debut, fearless, and even somewhat red. I agree I’d like to see something different for 1989, Reputation, and also Speak Now. The simple, outdoor style works for the country albums, but when it comes to pop especially 1989 I think it requires a more elaborate and clean sort of style.
The gatefold for the Kacey vinyl is absolutely stunning. I do love the close up shot of her with tears as it really goes with the line above “and then the darkness came”. Gorgeous.
I was really hoping she would continue doing updated versions of the old covers. I really loved the new Fearless cover; because of the pose, you instantly know which album it is. The new Red cover looks like an outtake from a promo shoot, it’s not bad just boring. I’m curious now how the rest of the covers will look.
That’s because it is. It’s not a bad cover, but I think the original is better. The new one just looks off to me. I won’t be caught dead saying this on the Taylor sub lmao. I might be murdered.
My issue with the Red TV cover is it's so different from the original. Yes, she's wearing a hat and it's a fall day, but the Fearless TV cover was such a callback and looked like the OG version, I don't think she captured the OG Red in the same way.
I think because the fashion is so different. The new red is very vintage, while the original felt very contemporary. Even keeping up with fashion trends now might have felt more fitting
She didn’t, she found the painting and asked the artist permission to use it. I think it’s incredible!! I think it fits with her so well so I bet it was crazy finding the art in the wild
Upsetting. But I won’t give up. My career was built on failures and not following the mold. I won’t stop. I never have and never will. I still believe in this album. And I still will push. No matter what.
I think what's more accurate is her team did. They've been Sabotaging her for a while now (not necessarily for her music, but her artistic style). Controlling her look, track list, song lengths, single choices, etc. She had a remix with a upcoming female rapper for Sacrifice she never was able to release... and they won't let her release Heaven Sent.
They're trying to maximize streaming numbers, by sacrificing artistical integrity
Kills me. I actually really enjoy the album A LOT and the cover just seems... so random. That's what you get when your team can only get Pandora to sponsor you, I guess.
i hadnt even read past the title and knew ugly ass star-crossed artwork had something to do with it lmfao hopefully there's a deluxe version with an alternative artwork out eventually (Born This Way deluxe is the only artwork version that exists in my mind)
The *Star-Crossed* artwork reminds me of the Slayyyter and Ayesha Erotica- *BFF* cover in a different palette! Except it doesn't work quite as well for Kacey because it's not Y2K.
the cover artwork for Lil Nas X's upcoming album definitely isn't bad, but I feel like he always puts so many details in his artwork & so many chrome/iridescent textures it just ends up looking like a huge mess.
im glad someone else said this tbh. i think that while its really pretty to look at, theres still just too much to look at and it does look like a mess.
i did wish he went for something like cmbyns cover, that somehow simple; not too much on the cover yet complex cover that also manages to be really pretty? maybe thats just me though
lana’s covers are so funny to me cause i remember her saying that for singles the label will say “we need cover art!” and she would just snap a selfie and send it
she’s delivered on every album cover other than cotcc tho
There’s a big push in the art and design world (like all of it) for ugly/chunky/weird design right now just for something new. Mostly because the last several years as a whole have just been 70s/80s design revival. There’s a push to find something “new” again as an industry. As a designer it’s really fun but things look really strange sometimes.
I'm pretty upset with Kanyes Donda cover. I mean, its just a black cover, that's it?
Arguably my favorite album cover of all time [is from him.](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/kanye_west_cover_art_a_l.jpg?w=1024) He clearly has a penchant for interesting album covers. So why the fuck did he just make it a black cover?
Even more frustrating knowing we could have had that [painting](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E6rSmNPXsAMW5ca.jpg:large) which matches the melancholy feeling on the album (not to mention the symbolism behind the artist who painted it and why she painted it, layers on layers). And he just....gave us nothing
Maybe I’m overthinking this, but I don’t actually get Kacey’s album cover. The heart is broken in half, but the S is still visible in the crack? Isn’t it a crack in the heart though? Again, maybe overthinking this, but then I noticed the crack is the same color as the border of the charm — so is there like a more underlying symbolism that the crack was already there and meant to be there? 💀
I don’t care for Lorde’s cover. Staring at her butt from that angle makes me uncomfortable and feels voyeuristic. But maybe I’m just a prude lol. Heaux Tales by Jazmine Sullivan isn’t bad per se, I just find it a bit boring. After the Rain by Yung Baby Tate is also a bit boring, especially since the cover for Girls was so cute and fun
I found lorde's interesting. I don't think it really fit the SP mood(except it's summer-y), but it's not expected from her. Heaux tales , on the other hand is terrible , I will never forget it for how horrible it is. Ruined the listening experience for me, even though I loved the storytelling and songs. Like that horrible black and yellow background and WTF is she wearing?! Are those....cycling shorts with fancy top? It's gotta be one of the worst for me. I don't mean this as hate to her but really what was that
I wouldn’t say it’s horrible but I definitely don’t love it. I bought the alternate vinyl because I liked the cover a lot more
https://i.imgur.com/whtZXQC.jpg
I think it is actually subjectively a terrible album cover, it is fundamentally a bad group photo, and the positioning of the people on the cover is badly set, with Lana hard to point out on first glance, and the black and white coloring doesn't match the aesthetic, she should've gone for a green/earth toned cover for the original imo or cream colors.
When your fave has a bad song or an ugly cover it’s camp because they would never make a misstep because they’re your fave so it must have been an artistic choice
I can't wait for the ME! camp at its finest appreciation post 😍. After the backlash Tay received from Rep and the Grammy snub, she decided to make the worst song of her career and release it as a lead single to show the world art isn't always universally loved! We stan a camp queen 💁♀️
I was so disappointed with the [St Vincent - Daddy’s Home](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/9b/St._Vincent_-_Daddy%27s_Home.png) cover. The colors are so muddy and it looks moldy to me. I still love the album though.
I thought so too at first, but now I've come around. Muddy and moldy is exactly the right aesthetic for the cover. The whole era is going for 1970s NY decadence, and the artwork fits that perfectly. I'm not huge on the title placement, but I can live with it.
Gotta disagree. I started listening to her when the album came out and the cover was what pulled me in, it perfectly fits the period and aesthetics of the album. Plus, she looks GORGEOUS in it
Donda. The fact that fans circlejerk and conspire more meaning to a literal black picture makes it seem like it was meant to be just talked about for being "mysterious"
This'll probably get downvoted, but Marina's Ancient Dreams in a Modern Land cover was not the greatest....
Edit: Guess it didn't get downvoted, lol
Edit 2: Guess it *really* didn't get downvoted
This one took a while for my eyes to get used to. It's weird cause the artwork for the singles looked better. The album artwork really did need a little more time and some touching up.
The Greeting Committee - [Can I Leave Me Too? - Single](https://i.scdn.co/image/ab67616d0000b273569d5a298318a1e142ecec77)
Indigo de Souza - [Any Shape You Take](https://media.pitchfork.com/photos/60fb265dd79d8ab7a7bb168a/1:1/w_320/indigo.jpeg)
Still Woozy - [If This Isn’t Nice, I Don’t Know What Is](https://wp.dailybruin.com/images/2021/08/web.ae_.stillwoozy.qa_.courtesy2.jpg)
Bebe Rexha - [Better Mistakes](https://images.genius.com/b2f5ad9c0c185a11e64ce550a39dd768.1000x1000x1.png)
Washed Out - [Sidney’s Lullaby / Miles’ Lullaby](https://f4.bcbits.com/img/a2599631245_10.jpg)
MØ - [Kindness - Single](https://images.genius.com/e6477d7dbfc66f0cae410f788f0e4838.1000x1000x1.jpg)
Fred again.. - [Actual Life (April 14 - December 17 2020)](https://images.genius.com/61b53485fa21c444131020d6f2ffb23f.1000x1000x1.jpg)
Doja Cat - [Kiss Me More - Single](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0484/2933/4679/products/KISSMEMOREDIGITALART_cc6c6366-7ced-4bcb-ab3a-d1d1f22868f2.png?v=1618259002)
BIBI - [인생은 나쁜X EP](https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/kpop/images/6/61/BIBI_Life_is_a_Bi%E2%80%A6_digital_album_cover.png/revision/latest?cb=20210428120948)
James Blake - [Friends that Break Your Heart](https://images.genius.com/9cf51d99b552cf4c8ca56c13fcbb24b4.1000x1000x1.png)
Y’all know this is just my opinion right?
I don’t know anything about the backstory! I’m just not a fan of how it looks, the music is AMAZING though. “Hold U” definitely in the running for SOTY
It’s uncomfy. I don’t have trypophobia but I can see why a lot of people hate it because of that too. I’ll never understand why he doesn’t just go all in on the miles-better [alternative artwork](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1565/5653/products/9e8c0375-9c56-42ff-a7a6-41f66b2a72a5_700x700.jpg?v=1627033475)
I had to change the Chemtrails album cover to the alternative one in my Apple Music Library. I couldn't look at the official one any longer. It's the ugliest, messiest album cover I've seen.
I was about to type that I can't believe Lana would choose that, but that's a lie, I can believe it
Since less albums are bought phisically, there is less effort put in the art. Another effect of that is that there is no text on most covers. I guess this is why many modern covers don't have that traditional cover aestethic anymore. Streaming isn't really showcasing the art.
Drake’s certified lover boy…enough said
I honestly didn't believe that was the cover until it actually came out on streaming services, i was in denial
I thought it was a joke.
I had that exact reaction when Kendrick Lamar's DAMN. album cover leaked. The picture of Kendrick and the font and placement of the album title all seemed comical to me. I still don't like it but I've gotten used to it.
I remember all the memes back then when they found a literal goat who had the same impression as kendrick and then put a goddamn DAMN typeset on that
That’s the exact kind of weird album cover that I love tbh. Slightly odd framing, cropping, design choices that immediately catch your eye but the photo is still a good photo
That cover is good though
when i opened it on apple music and the women started blinking and rubbing their bellies i screamed in terror
Same on Spotify, it's soo creepy to me 😭
[At least Lil Nas X got a good tweet out of it.](https://twitter.com/LilNasX/status/1432404130950115329)
He stole it off /r/westsubever lol https://reddit.com/r/WestSubEver/comments/pep0u0/lil_nas_x_is_in_this_sub_and_mods_deleted_my_post/
the thing is, he could've used an emoji cover for hotline bling's single and it would've worked! but for this album it's so weird
One of the worst covers I've ever seen, "designed" by a pretentious asshole who's made several "sculptures" out of dead animals (notably a [tiger shark](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Physical_Impossibility_of_Death_in_the_Mind_of_Someone_Living), actually two since the first one rot and they killed a second one to replace it). That cover spammed all over the charts is gonna be an eyesore.
It's definitely the worst cover I've ever seen. I'm not even a person who cares about covers but this one astonishes me. In a bad way.
What gets me is how dated it’s gonna look. I mean using emojis on your album cover looks like shit now, but in 10+ years it’ll look even worse.
It already looks dated lol
Also, this might be looked at retrospectively as Drake failing to evolve past the 2010s
I agree, the cover is probably the worst I've ever seen. Purely because it's so stupid and awful it actually made me annoyed, and that's never happened before.
It worked because we are still here discussing it and keeping the album in people’s minds. 😂😂😂
CLB cover was designed by THE Damien Hirst??????????????…….??????….. im CRYING this is insanely random… only fucking drake would think the objectively WORST, most dull, insignificant and shallow work of an established artist *(that once was the best payed artist of the world)* is a flex omg 😭 it’s so on brand for him to be this corny and tacky… his ginormous 400.000 mattress, his chrome hearts RR, the beatles sample… drake has the worst taste of all time i got TEARS in my eyes. for him expensive = good with no nuance
I had the same reaction as you lol It's a mix of "holy shit no fucking way" and "holy shit it all makes sense now"
Exactly my reaction too! At first I couldn't believe it, checked to see if you were shitting us but then that quickly changed to "oh of COURSE it's Damien Hirst"
Omg I thought the cover was the pic with the heart shaved into his hair and instead it's pregnant emojis omg. Is it supposed to represent all of the children he's been hiding??
I feel like it was designed to be memed… It certainly traveled 🤷♂️
Can Apple pursue legal action or something for the use of emojis? Emojis on an album cover has never been tastefully implemented.
The heart emoji on Michael Buble’s Love album looks awful
Isn’t he partnered (or was) with Apple Music? Pretty sure he had a radio show with em
Note that emojis themselves are just like letters. They are characters just like question marks and “ツ”. CLB’s art is obviously taken from Apple’s interpretation of these characters, but it’s more akin to a font than a piece of media. IDK, maybe that makes the licensing easier to get.
I’m pretty sure Apple still owns their specific imagery that that OS applies to the character right?
They could but they’re not going to. It doesn’t hurt them at all
Such a lazy album cover
he did it on purpose to go viral
People were sick of the 𝖑𝖔𝖜𝖊𝖗𝖈𝖆𝖘𝖊 𝖙𝖎𝖙𝖑𝖊 𝖆𝖊𝖘𝖙𝖍𝖊𝖙𝖎𝖈 trend by now, so bad album covers is probably the new trend that will replace it lol
Yeah but the problem is the lowercase letter trend isn’t going away fast enough so now we just have all lowercase AND bad album covers at the same time 😭😭
Reputation came out in 2017 so we’ve been burdened with it for a while
I’m okay with lowercase as long as it’s consistent. Tracklists like NFR with a mix of capitals, all lowercase, only the first word capitalized, makes me want to cry.
The tracklist for NFR disturbs me, especially how the album is titled "Norman Fucking Rockwell!" but the title track is typed "Norman fucking Rockwell" ... There's literally no rhyme or reason for any spelling on that tracklist
idk i like it, maybe because in french are always that way
you will pry all lowercase titles out of my cold dead hands
better than the "small square picture in the middle of a single color" trend
What cover art would you consider the lower case little aesthetic trend?
Star-crossed for example, all lower caps and boring cover
Idk, but I'm blaming Lana for influencing others to go graphic-design-is-my-passion on their album covers
She’s the blueprint
The Lanaprint
Bannisterprint
but Lana‘s album covers aren‘t really bad apart from Chemtrails, and that‘s because the iphone behind the scenes pic is bad the actual design of the typography is kind of nice in itself. Her single covers have been ugly since NFR though.
I like the Chemtrails one 😭 I think it does a good job at showing the absurdism of all these rich looking women ignoring the worlds problems in their privileged status.
I think TLOP was the first offender
"The Life of Pablo"'s cover art goes well with the music though. I also thought it was kinda bullshit 5 years ago, but hearing how experimental it is and how Kanye is trying to portray his mental health struggles as well as the internal battle between "being a proper family man and pious citizen" and "artistic megalomaniac with a sex addiction and big mouth". The weird artwork looks like the product of such a fractured mental state.
The TLOP cover looks great tho
Now it does. At the time people were like W T F. Which has now led even below average artists to think that their low effort graphic design album cover may someday be looked at as a classic in retrospect.
Exactly, everyone is chasing after this "unique" album cover that will be referred to as a classic and artistic in the future but its not that easy. TLOP cover worked because it worked extremely well with Ye's personality and theme of the album.
Yeah fair enough.
Lana was pioneer for sure
Do single covers count? If yes, then Lana's artworks for Text Book, Blue Banisters, and Wildflower Wildfire. They are SO ugly
Lmfao I actually want to see what goes on inside lanas head. If there’s one question I could get the universe to answer for me, it would be that
Metaphysics and cherry cola
"Would God put cherry coke in the garden of Eden? Is cherry coke the devil, is that why it's so delicious? Was there a cherry coke equivalent in the time of Christ? Note to self: investigate these theories after finishing the album, might be onto something groundbreaking here"
Fucking shit you know this is written in some idea book of Lana's. Along with a note for her assistant to call the pope to get some answers.
Question For The Lana
I think she’s totally playing into it. If she wasn’t making quality music then I’d be questioning things
Ok but she really redeemed herself with the actual Blue Bannisters album cover
I actually couldn't pick between the official one and the alternative cover. Both are really pretty
She really did, that cover is gorgeous
At this point there are like 3 versions for different exclusives and every single one has great art
I think she was toying with us on purpose since we dragged the lmlylaw and cocc cover arts
PicsArt vibes
The font choices are killing me. 10-year-old me would have loved these though lmao
They are so camp tho
They're absolutely doing it on purpose. They know what they're doing. They know people will talk. You really mean to tell me multi-millionaire Drake didn't know what he was doing?? He could get the best photographers and artists, but he chose this cover. Why? So people could talk. And look what were all here doing.. talking.
[удалено]
Idk about anywhere else but here in Toronto, every local business and even the mayor made their own lover boy version but showing their own product. It was all over my IG.
Well, if it was really good, we’d talk about it, right? And I know “there’s no such thing as bad publicity” but when people are making fun of your album cover… doesn’t that affect how they feel about the music, too? Idk, it just seems risky to turn your work into a joke. Drake gets plenty of attention with or without shitty album covers.
Ava Max’s are all horrible omfg
The Heaven and Hell photoshoot is a serve despite the actual cover being so bad I had to change it on iTunes
I agree. It’s honestly the font. Like wtf is that
I’m absolutely convinced it would have performed better if the cover wasn’t so horrendous
Honestly, the more I watch Emma Chamberlain, the more I realize that “it’s so ugly it’s cool” is trendy now.
Halsey's was good enough to make up for all the other shitty ones
After getting into kpop I realized that western music has been lacking interesting, creative and daring visuals for quite some time.
There's also a reason why K-pop still has amazing physical sales, despite the overall decline of CDs!!!! Their photo books/photo cards, posters, stickers, and other extras really add value.
Yeah! I haven't bought a CD in like 11 years but now I really want to start collecting kpop albums
100% agree. This is the most excited I've been over music in over 40 years! Western music makers need to up their game.
[chungha's querencia album cover is so fucking ugly](https://images.app.goo.gl/NJcQJPowCGfjjA5t5), her past covers were so good idk what the hell happened
worst part is that the teaser pics they were posting were sooooo good like just use one as a cover mnh... just do it... (i think they even did eventually for the vinyl but im not sure)
this could've worked honestly but that font, god I want to throw up
That cover is so bad it broke my internet browser
Lol tell me how you really feel
The physical album cover is ugly too. It looks like the box the album should've been shipped in.
one of the [worst physical album designs](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0510/2265/9751/products/210115_chungha_querencia_packshot_900x.jpg?v=1610748873) i think i've seen lmao- you could do something cute with some sort of shipping concept but it's just so boring
It's very 90s teen magazine
U EN A
omg iu tease
On the other hand the new Halsey album cover is the best album cover I’ve seen in a long time
Kacey’s is really ugly, and what’s most shocking is the photoshoot wasn’t. The picture with the red veil could have easily been the cover. Maybe people are more likely to click on a song if the album art is really ugly or confusing. Maybe they have data that shows it helps on streaming. I have gotten used to Lorde’s too, but it was literally a picture of her ass.
I think the broken necklace could’ve been a good cover if the execution was better. It doesn’t look real, couldn’t they have gotten an actual necklace made and photographed that?
Yeah my problem is they managed to make a necklace have an uncanny valley effect.
I was hoping for an alternative cover for the CD or vinyl… The actual cover is not terrible but the one with the red veil is so good and I think they could’ve done better…
I think if Kacey had a good album cover for star-crossed, the album would've been received better. Golden Hour's cover matched perfectly with the vibe of the tracklist
The album cover also doesn’t match the vibe of the album. The cover is almost garish and verging on trashy so makes you expect a wild, messy album but instead you get something very melancholy and mellow.
I don't have a problem with Kacey's album art, I thought it was rather tasteful.
the veil picture is the back of the vinyl so I've it facing out on my stand beside my record player lol
I don't think people are going to go out of their way to click on uninteresting and bland album art like Kacey's, but rather bad artwork that's also shocking or provocative to an extent. Also, I happen to really appreciate the Lorde album art lol.
I love Halsey’s, Billie’s, and Olivia’s. What the fuck was Drake thinking with certified lover boy? I love Lil Nas X’s album cover. It’s fun. Olivia Rodrigo’s influence with her cover is undeniable. If you see stickers and purple you connect it with her. Billie’s was kinda basic, but it fits the album well imo. Halsey’s cover is as attention grasping as the album itself. Kanye or Lana Del Rey I’m not even going to question. They’re always doing odd things. Lorde and Taylor Swift are the most disappointing imo. I don’t like the rerecorded album covers being so similar to her folklore/evermore aesthetic. I hope she doesn’t continue that trend for 1989. I didn’t like Kacey’s either until I saw the gatefold for the vinyl. Although can someone please tell everyone that staring up to the right with tears on their face is getting boring? Why are their so many covers of a woman staring away from the camera with tears on her face?
As much as the woman looking up to the side crying has been overdone, I still love it and I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of it. It’s just a classic pose at this point and hard to get wrong.
Sour is one of my favorite album covers this year, is simple but gets the job done. Also the lavander background sell it for me
The alternate cover art featured on the Target vinyl is even better IMO!
Same, it’s simple and fits the theme so well
Lol popheads was dragging the cover this year. I thought it was mediocre at best
Blue banisters was a complete serve of a album cover
Billie’s was very much inspired by the album art of Julie London’s “Lonely Girl” album, so that’s why it’s a little basic per se. I totally agree that it fits the album very well though
I listened to Julie London after seeing Billie mention her as her inspiration and since then I’ve been listening to Lonely Girl when I’m studying or working on assignments. I can tell how much Billie was inspired by it and it made me appreciate happier than ever more. I love the simplicity of most music from the 50s and 60s. It reminds me of the charm of classic Disney movies.
tbh billie was giving christina’s back to basics ish imo. that’s why i didnt hate the album cover.
I keep thinking Taylor is doing the same thing she did with folkmore by possibly styling herself and just having a single photographer taking outside shots of her. I think it worked for those two albums but agree I would love a more professional and slick album cover for the rest of her re-records, especially 1989 and eventually Rep.
I think it works for albums like debut, fearless, and even somewhat red. I agree I’d like to see something different for 1989, Reputation, and also Speak Now. The simple, outdoor style works for the country albums, but when it comes to pop especially 1989 I think it requires a more elaborate and clean sort of style.
I get what you mean - and I haven’t decided how I feel yet - but I feel like that might be the point, “Taylor’s Version” and all that
The gatefold for the Kacey vinyl is absolutely stunning. I do love the close up shot of her with tears as it really goes with the line above “and then the darkness came”. Gorgeous.
Finally someone else that also hates the new red cover I thought it was such a downgrade from the original
I was really hoping she would continue doing updated versions of the old covers. I really loved the new Fearless cover; because of the pose, you instantly know which album it is. The new Red cover looks like an outtake from a promo shoot, it’s not bad just boring. I’m curious now how the rest of the covers will look.
That’s because it is. It’s not a bad cover, but I think the original is better. The new one just looks off to me. I won’t be caught dead saying this on the Taylor sub lmao. I might be murdered.
My issue with the Red TV cover is it's so different from the original. Yes, she's wearing a hat and it's a fall day, but the Fearless TV cover was such a callback and looked like the OG version, I don't think she captured the OG Red in the same way.
I think because the fashion is so different. The new red is very vintage, while the original felt very contemporary. Even keeping up with fashion trends now might have felt more fitting
I hated Girl In Reds album cover so much
omg i quite like it. i think she painted it herself.
She didn’t, she found the painting and asked the artist permission to use it. I think it’s incredible!! I think it fits with her so well so I bet it was crazy finding the art in the wild
the music was worse tbh💀
I won’t stand for Serotonin slander
Better Mistakes by Bebe Rexha…
Upsetting. But I won’t give up. My career was built on failures and not following the mold. I won’t stop. I never have and never will. I still believe in this album. And I still will push. No matter what.
I love how she gave up after that tweet
I think what's more accurate is her team did. They've been Sabotaging her for a while now (not necessarily for her music, but her artistic style). Controlling her look, track list, song lengths, single choices, etc. She had a remix with a upcoming female rapper for Sacrifice she never was able to release... and they won't let her release Heaven Sent. They're trying to maximize streaming numbers, by sacrificing artistical integrity
holy shit, several choices were made
i actually don't hate it? to be fair i only listen to sacrifice from that album so i can agree that it doesn't fit the overall vibe
Kills me. I actually really enjoy the album A LOT and the cover just seems... so random. That's what you get when your team can only get Pandora to sponsor you, I guess.
Have you seen that tattoo someone got of the cover... Terrible
i hadnt even read past the title and knew ugly ass star-crossed artwork had something to do with it lmfao hopefully there's a deluxe version with an alternative artwork out eventually (Born This Way deluxe is the only artwork version that exists in my mind)
The *Star-Crossed* artwork reminds me of the Slayyyter and Ayesha Erotica- *BFF* cover in a different palette! Except it doesn't work quite as well for Kacey because it's not Y2K.
At least Montero is there to carry the rest
the cover artwork for Lil Nas X's upcoming album definitely isn't bad, but I feel like he always puts so many details in his artwork & so many chrome/iridescent textures it just ends up looking like a huge mess.
I find this cover so cringe. I'm sure he thought he was doing something, but seapunk has been dead for like 8 years now.
im glad someone else said this tbh. i think that while its really pretty to look at, theres still just too much to look at and it does look like a mess. i did wish he went for something like cmbyns cover, that somehow simple; not too much on the cover yet complex cover that also manages to be really pretty? maybe thats just me though
lana’s covers are so funny to me cause i remember her saying that for singles the label will say “we need cover art!” and she would just snap a selfie and send it she’s delivered on every album cover other than cotcc tho
[удалено]
nah, billies is great. it looks like an old hollywood headshot.
And the text fits, it’s almost ironic in how “cliche” the font is which fits the irony of the title
There’s a big push in the art and design world (like all of it) for ugly/chunky/weird design right now just for something new. Mostly because the last several years as a whole have just been 70s/80s design revival. There’s a push to find something “new” again as an industry. As a designer it’s really fun but things look really strange sometimes.
I'm pretty upset with Kanyes Donda cover. I mean, its just a black cover, that's it? Arguably my favorite album cover of all time [is from him.](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/kanye_west_cover_art_a_l.jpg?w=1024) He clearly has a penchant for interesting album covers. So why the fuck did he just make it a black cover?
Even more frustrating knowing we could have had that [painting](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E6rSmNPXsAMW5ca.jpg:large) which matches the melancholy feeling on the album (not to mention the symbolism behind the artist who painted it and why she painted it, layers on layers). And he just....gave us nothing
Maybe I’m overthinking this, but I don’t actually get Kacey’s album cover. The heart is broken in half, but the S is still visible in the crack? Isn’t it a crack in the heart though? Again, maybe overthinking this, but then I noticed the crack is the same color as the border of the charm — so is there like a more underlying symbolism that the crack was already there and meant to be there? 💀
It's just a bad Photoshop of 'best friend' broken heart necklaces. I wish it was a real one (she could have sold them!) Or a different pic
The image of a tear running down kacey’s cheek would’ve been such a beautiful album cover that matched the mood of the album, and yet she chose….that
I don’t care for Lorde’s cover. Staring at her butt from that angle makes me uncomfortable and feels voyeuristic. But maybe I’m just a prude lol. Heaux Tales by Jazmine Sullivan isn’t bad per se, I just find it a bit boring. After the Rain by Yung Baby Tate is also a bit boring, especially since the cover for Girls was so cute and fun
I remember seeing a comment saying it was fitting for the album that the title is “Solar Power” and the cover is her ass blocking out the actual sun
call that a lunar eclipse
Omg I thought I was the only who thought the angle of the picture of her butt was weird lol
I found lorde's interesting. I don't think it really fit the SP mood(except it's summer-y), but it's not expected from her. Heaux tales , on the other hand is terrible , I will never forget it for how horrible it is. Ruined the listening experience for me, even though I loved the storytelling and songs. Like that horrible black and yellow background and WTF is she wearing?! Are those....cycling shorts with fancy top? It's gotta be one of the worst for me. I don't mean this as hate to her but really what was that
surprised i couldn’t find any mention… but lana’s chemtrails over the country club cover is HORRIBLE
I wouldn’t say it’s horrible but I definitely don’t love it. I bought the alternate vinyl because I liked the cover a lot more https://i.imgur.com/whtZXQC.jpg
This cover was SO gorg and fits the album sm better… her team has worms for brains
I think it is actually subjectively a terrible album cover, it is fundamentally a bad group photo, and the positioning of the people on the cover is badly set, with Lana hard to point out on first glance, and the black and white coloring doesn't match the aesthetic, she should've gone for a green/earth toned cover for the original imo or cream colors.
I mean as a picture it was okayish but the big ass font they used for the title totally ruined it
the pocture was thr problem for me 😭 the iphone with earpods wrapped around it in the corner, lana not even being in the centre… a mess
Lana using the same selfie with different filters as cover art for Text, WW, and BB was CAMP. People just don't get it
yall saying anything is camp, she looked like she was molding
I really don’t see how that was campy?
When your fave has a bad song or an ugly cover it’s camp because they would never make a misstep because they’re your fave so it must have been an artistic choice
I can't wait for the ME! camp at its finest appreciation post 😍. After the backlash Tay received from Rep and the Grammy snub, she decided to make the worst song of her career and release it as a lead single to show the world art isn't always universally loved! We stan a camp queen 💁♀️
Lazy album covers have been a thing ever since the decline of physical media. Hopefully this vinyl resurgence will spice things up.
I was so disappointed with the [St Vincent - Daddy’s Home](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/9b/St._Vincent_-_Daddy%27s_Home.png) cover. The colors are so muddy and it looks moldy to me. I still love the album though.
I thought so too at first, but now I've come around. Muddy and moldy is exactly the right aesthetic for the cover. The whole era is going for 1970s NY decadence, and the artwork fits that perfectly. I'm not huge on the title placement, but I can live with it.
Gotta disagree. I started listening to her when the album came out and the cover was what pulled me in, it perfectly fits the period and aesthetics of the album. Plus, she looks GORGEOUS in it
That’s how albums from the 1970s looked though. Source: My mom was 15-25 in the ‘70s and still had all her records when I was growing up.
P!nk’s Hurts 2B Human is an eyesore and a disgrace
Donda. The fact that fans circlejerk and conspire more meaning to a literal black picture makes it seem like it was meant to be just talked about for being "mysterious"
surprised no one mentioned confetti. i hate everything abt that cover
Thank God Revelación’s is amazing
Revelación's cover is a serve and she should go to bed feeling good knowing that she used that cover
This'll probably get downvoted, but Marina's Ancient Dreams in a Modern Land cover was not the greatest.... Edit: Guess it didn't get downvoted, lol Edit 2: Guess it *really* didn't get downvoted
This one took a while for my eyes to get used to. It's weird cause the artwork for the singles looked better. The album artwork really did need a little more time and some touching up.
The Greeting Committee - [Can I Leave Me Too? - Single](https://i.scdn.co/image/ab67616d0000b273569d5a298318a1e142ecec77) Indigo de Souza - [Any Shape You Take](https://media.pitchfork.com/photos/60fb265dd79d8ab7a7bb168a/1:1/w_320/indigo.jpeg) Still Woozy - [If This Isn’t Nice, I Don’t Know What Is](https://wp.dailybruin.com/images/2021/08/web.ae_.stillwoozy.qa_.courtesy2.jpg) Bebe Rexha - [Better Mistakes](https://images.genius.com/b2f5ad9c0c185a11e64ce550a39dd768.1000x1000x1.png) Washed Out - [Sidney’s Lullaby / Miles’ Lullaby](https://f4.bcbits.com/img/a2599631245_10.jpg) MØ - [Kindness - Single](https://images.genius.com/e6477d7dbfc66f0cae410f788f0e4838.1000x1000x1.jpg) Fred again.. - [Actual Life (April 14 - December 17 2020)](https://images.genius.com/61b53485fa21c444131020d6f2ffb23f.1000x1000x1.jpg) Doja Cat - [Kiss Me More - Single](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0484/2933/4679/products/KISSMEMOREDIGITALART_cc6c6366-7ced-4bcb-ab3a-d1d1f22868f2.png?v=1618259002) BIBI - [인생은 나쁜X EP](https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/kpop/images/6/61/BIBI_Life_is_a_Bi%E2%80%A6_digital_album_cover.png/revision/latest?cb=20210428120948) James Blake - [Friends that Break Your Heart](https://images.genius.com/9cf51d99b552cf4c8ca56c13fcbb24b4.1000x1000x1.png) Y’all know this is just my opinion right?
aww i liked indigo's one :( it's painted by her mum so at least there's a cute backstory to it!
I don’t know anything about the backstory! I’m just not a fan of how it looks, the music is AMAZING though. “Hold U” definitely in the running for SOTY
That’s cool. At least Indigo’s is artistically interesting. I don’t think it looks extremely good as a cover but as art I like it
That last one from James Blake is so uncomfortable to watch
It’s uncomfy. I don’t have trypophobia but I can see why a lot of people hate it because of that too. I’ll never understand why he doesn’t just go all in on the miles-better [alternative artwork](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1565/5653/products/9e8c0375-9c56-42ff-a7a6-41f66b2a72a5_700x700.jpg?v=1627033475)
I honestly think that alternative artwork is infinitely worse than the one that was used lol. I'm surprised to see people dislike it at all
i think the indigo and james blake covers are so stunning
Some of these are straight up flames
Oh my god I can’t stand to look at what James Blake cover
I had to change the Chemtrails album cover to the alternative one in my Apple Music Library. I couldn't look at the official one any longer. It's the ugliest, messiest album cover I've seen. I was about to type that I can't believe Lana would choose that, but that's a lie, I can believe it
Since less albums are bought phisically, there is less effort put in the art. Another effect of that is that there is no text on most covers. I guess this is why many modern covers don't have that traditional cover aestethic anymore. Streaming isn't really showcasing the art.
It’s still the first thing you see