This is a quick read and visual process blog created for the purpose of accompanying a formal written work in the makes, ideally a thesis (a long-overdue one at best), or as I prefer to call it, a coffee table book.
It's an inquiry into how images and words seamlessly compliment and bring about understanding, rather than take on secondary roles to each other. I love design and dig good music, so it made sense to use music album covers and music website design as practical illustration. My objective, however, won't emphasize how musicians rely heavily on visuals to sell their product, but how a visual does that which words try, but sometimes ambigously do.
Hopes you share any of your own experience or knowledge on the subjects to be posted. Hey, I'll even add you to the credits in my coffee table book!
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10 comments:
Ottimo lavoro Roxanna! Mi piace molto il logo su cui hai lavorato!!! :-) Lino
http://grungehouse.com/cd_cover/017/lg/The_Police_-_Every_Breath_You_Take_-_The_Classics.jpg
http://www.invisiblecreature.com/#/work/music-packaging/the-fold-secrets-keep-you-sick
It is very sad that LP's have gone away in favor of the smaller CD and surely, in the future, some even smaller plug-in album on thumb drive or simply a download. The large front cover of vinyl albums were dangerously cool and spoke a mile about the music within...since most musicians who were good...were also artsy. No album cover meant as much to me as "Whipped Cream", which was an album by Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass. As a young boy I loved trumpet music, and was mesmerized by that cover...leading me deeper into the music...from which my understanding of music production, common tones, harmony, and key changes was formed.
I stared for hours at that cover...never knowing why....only later did I find out. Trumpet music, if played right can be sexy and intriguing...that's the way Herb Alpert played...and that is likely the sexiest album cover of all time...in my mind...because I wasn't looking for it...I own several original copies just in case one cover wears out!
It was a first listening to Herb Alpert's trumpet blowing on youtube today, although a friend mentioned he had done the music for the Dating Game--that alone qualifies as pretty cool in my book. Quite liked Route 101 from his Fandango album. At first glimpse, the Fandango cover gave me the impression of a young Clint Eastwood in Dirty Harry--straight shooting trumpet playing.
IVE ALWAYS LOVED THE GUNS AND ROSES APPETITE FOR DESTRUCTION ALBUM COVER THE FIVE SKELETON FACES ON THE CROSS. IT TRUELY SYMBOLIZED THE TYPE OF MUSICIANS THAT THEY WERE AND THE TYPE OF MUSIC THEY HAD PRODUCED ON THAT PARTICULAR ALBUM. THEY WERE ALL SELF DESTRUCTING (DRUGS, ALCOHOL). THEY WERE THE WALKING DEAD. THE FIVE SKELETON FACES DRESSED ACCORDINGLY TO ALL THE BAND MEMBERS, ON A CROSS. A TRUE REPRESENTATION OF WHAT YOU WOULD FIND INSIDE
Evanescence is a group that continues to capture my ear. The lyrics can feel dark but the voice of Amy Lee can bring fresh air into a room. Not a typical rock group in my opinion. Amy spent years studying classic piano. Yet her days of growing up she listened to the heavier death medal type music. Check out the album cover "The Open Door." A beautiful lady is crossing the threshold of an open doorway leading to the outside, fresh air mind you. The inside is dark and gives this inescapable dreary feeling. Lee stated she felt more alive after doing this album. As if she had something to say for a while but had no portal to channel the emotions through. Here she opened the door and steps outside, still gorgeous and untethered, a survivor of what ailed her. Yet the young woman is looking back, as if she is not to forget what kept her in darkness but moves forward to live in the light.
Yeah this may be to much, but it is what came to mind when I had seen the album cover and listen to the music. Love you sis!
Guns and Roses, the name itself was a great juxtaposition. I think it's fair to say that visual of crosses and cigarrettes made a tremendous fashion statement. Interestingly enough, rhinestoned skulls are now on the shirts of babies.
That Evanescence cover is quite literal and speaks quickly. Interesting to see her death metal taste in music mesh with her classical roots, like her flowing gown that follow the lines of that intricate doorway. The image is quite dark, but i think your right,it is what accentuates the lighter places.
I have always though "Dark Side of the Moon" was a great album cover. Simple but full of color, kind of like the music dark but makes you happy.
Wendy, so happy by your comment, because literally five minutes ago I was doing research on the designer of Dark Side of the Moon: Storm Thorgerson, who happened to creat Pink Floyd's "look".
Thorgerson has said, "I like photography because it is a reality medium, unlike drawing which is unreal. I like to mess with reality...to bend reality. Some of my works beg the question of is it real or not? I use real elements in unreal ways. Is the man really on fire? Why would he just be standing there? Who put the beds on the beach? Why? Why is there a cow on the cover? It doesn’t have anything to do with the album, or does it? A boxer dog in designer boxer shorts on a beach."
...thought provoking like Pink Floyd's music. Definantly a favourite.
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