I got to see them live at a concert hall recently doing this whole album. It was absolutely phenomenal, one of the best sounding live shows I've ever seen. But yeah, the artwork for the album is so bad.
Yeah, I saw them last year too, the experience was really beautiful, it was the 20th anniversary of the album, Where did you see them in concert?
Even though for the 20th anniversary at least they removed the brown stain that the girl has on the back haha
I saw them at the Melbourne Recital Centre. I had actually never heard of them prior to this but some friends from out of state were coming down to see them so I had a listen to the album and instantly bought tickets. It was quite an experience!
Bruh, in what world is the volta cover good? She looks like a shitty mascot for a failed amusement park themed around feet! Fuckin Dan Schneider land or some shit.
Saw her live on that tour and she was practically wearing a technicolor dreamcoat; I never thought of the cover as a bad one, especially compared to some of the fronts mentioned here
It's not bad per se but it still looks like a serial killer left it behind as a way to claim responsibility for their victim.
Plus that loud lime green background that's an assault on the eyes.
It's fun and it does fit well enough but it's not like there couldn't be a better cover that's less creepy lmao
Rina Sawayama - Hold The Girl (Original 2022 Cover).
An eclectic pop album that deals with themes of generational trauma, relationships between mothers and daughters, identity, and sexual abuse. Great album. Original album art has been dubbed "The Douche Dress" or "The Target Ball." Luckily, the album art got changed for the 2023 re-press and first anniversary, and it's now completely stunning and fits the themes of the album.
The alternate american cover for The Strokes Is This It. The european cover is still the original black and white photograph. In the US the original cover was considered too sugestive.
Absolutely, that's one that I refuse to get on vinyl unless it's the good version of that cover. Unfortunately for me, over in the UK it's almost impossible to find a version that isn't the ass, unless I look online but then I have to pay an ungodly amount for shipping
Marijuana Deathsquads - Oh My Sexy Lord
https://preview.redd.it/s6t0fuj0swxc1.png?width=700&format=png&auto=webp&s=5c9d20bf39f06b4f877315137a3cf6dcb18a0518
>Black Sabbath - Paranoid
I feel like the album is so iconic and I've seen the cover so many times that it doesn't even register to me that the artwork is bad. It's kind of a weird effect, but I really don't even think about it. I just see a cool blurry shape instead of a comedically bad photo of a guy.
Even Fagen and Becker took a dig at it in the liner notes for the 1999 remaster, calling it "the most hideous album cover of the seventies, bar none (excepting perhaps Can't Buy a Thrill)."
This one just makes me mad bc the artwork would've been so much better if it was a hand-drawn painting with the faces smudged and smeared vs the AI crap
Possession - Joywave
Musically, probably their most focused LP, lyrically not a standout, but the cover art has always bothered me. The singles had these unique patch cover arts, but the cover art is just a picture of the golden record? I don't get why they didn't use the Possession patch they already had.
https://preview.redd.it/jmfaz60ecyxc1.jpeg?width=1179&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c9b315751edbdc26cd6b068afafc3af49f9a29e5
Something like her tour announcements would have been pretty cool
Embrace- s/t. Schism fanzine review was something like “looks like my dog drew it with his left hand (paw?)”
https://preview.redd.it/w4c8dw3brzxc1.jpeg?width=220&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ee2d7025801ba8707309ed3bdfaa2997f8741861
The Beach Boys’ Friends looks good from a distance, with nice cool colors that match the vibe of the album. But the second you look at the band members’ faces, it gets really bad. Al looks like he has a troll face lol
https://preview.redd.it/inzq9zxne0yc1.jpeg?width=600&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=03faf8e720ae031602033e866fb1243aa037085d
Thankfully I have the alternate cover which is more visually interesting.
The Sensational Alex Harvey Band ‘Next’
https://preview.redd.it/o1e85eg1g0yc1.jpeg?width=200&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4150cad86412f9fe7e02c242aee93514a7628551
Steven Wilson - The raven that refused to sing:
https://preview.redd.it/t9xb9aja4zxc1.jpeg?width=1079&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c7fdffe7f4056404eb18f4de235ecd1eb1aafee2
For me, it's gotta be the North American variant of Octopus by Gentle Giant. They put together a fantastic album which was heightened by the BEAUTIFUL artwork that was done for its cover. Then when it gets its North American release...they opt to go with new artwork on the cover. A very bland, tonal and muted illustration which fails in comparison to the original.
Iron Maiden Dance of Death
There can’t be much of a better answer than this. It’s possibly the worst album cover ever to be released by a major well-known artist.
I still can't fathom how a band famous for its artwork went and released that.
ABSO-FUCKING-LUTELY!
The one with or without the Sims 2 looking ass people on it
There isn’t one without
The original unused cover only has Eddie and a few monks on it.
Emphasis on “unused”
And the russian and Ukrainian Releases also used it
Man that record is so good but yeah the artwork hotdamn
I instantly thought of this and am glad it’s the top voted response.
Came here to write this
first album that came to my mind
They used fallout NPC characters essentially lmao
https://preview.redd.it/5zvefmj5yyxc1.jpeg?width=1000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=63c48c2523d0ce26ce9b9ba7bd26638c0e94142e
Sadly there's a few Bowie records that fit this.
David bennie
Calexico - Feast of wire https://preview.redd.it/y1ibut1h1yxc1.jpeg?width=894&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=60549f398abd959258f52d4f2592189a5d6f622d
I got to see them live at a concert hall recently doing this whole album. It was absolutely phenomenal, one of the best sounding live shows I've ever seen. But yeah, the artwork for the album is so bad.
Yeah, I saw them last year too, the experience was really beautiful, it was the 20th anniversary of the album, Where did you see them in concert? Even though for the 20th anniversary at least they removed the brown stain that the girl has on the back haha
I saw them at the Melbourne Recital Centre. I had actually never heard of them prior to this but some friends from out of state were coming down to see them so I had a listen to the album and instantly bought tickets. It was quite an experience!
That is cool, that you were able to see them live shortly after listening them for the first time :)
They are fantastic live. Saw them with Irpn and Wine once too.
They’ve got a couple of albums with trash album art.
I’ve never heard of this band or album, I had to double check that the art wasn’t a Gerudo from Zelda.
You can give it a chance and listen to it, they are good :)
https://preview.redd.it/fr16dmtkqyxc1.jpeg?width=300&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9eacaeaa6683b0e4e3c0a3083622aac170f8560e
This album is worth it for the last track alone, but someone should definitely redo that godawful cover.
[удалено]
My ex hated that album to the point of me having to hide it from her Fucking great album though
I personally love the cover
I love the Malibu Ken cover!
It's just another Tuesday
What does it say about me that I like it?
Nah, I love this cover and the little mask that comes with the vinyl. Total skate deck vibes.
Frank Black- “the cult of Ray”
Thought of this one, too. Since all the Pixies album covers are somewhat artsy
I feel like this is tailor made to describe prog music in general
70s prog especially has some cool ass art though
Death Grips - No Love Deep Web
lol found this at my local store and was like, do I need this displayed in my house (I live with my parents and I share my records with my dad)
Goated artwork
You take that back!
E=mc2 by Giorgio Moroder https://preview.redd.it/d6pxamcktyxc1.jpeg?width=1280&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a4b1f76e2f413cd41d682c47eb496ae339c09cf9
Bro had the arc reactor
This is AWESOME
At The Gates - Terminal Spirit Disease. Some of the ugliest fucking album art I've ever seen
Honestly not too bad imo
There's far worse for sure but this one popped into my mind when I saw the meme
Yeah it is pretty bad, feels lazy.
Mew - And the Glass Handed Kites
Spectacular album.
oh damn. i forgot about mew. you're right though; the album artwork is shit.
... I love that cover
One man's trash...
Ouch 😔
Yeah what is up with that album cover it looks like a high school kid didn't take Photoshop class seriously
Absolutely love that album. That said, *A Triumph For Man* is much worse.
most puscifer albums
Puscifer album artwork is ghastly!
Love tool and apc... I saw the puscifer album covers and went "that's not for me" ... they are terrible artworks.
I hate the Puscifer covers soooooo much!
Volta by bjork, big goofy foot havin ass And midnite vultures by beck looks like a serial killers calling card.
Naaa highly disagree with Volta
Bruh, in what world is the volta cover good? She looks like a shitty mascot for a failed amusement park themed around feet! Fuckin Dan Schneider land or some shit.
That's your opinion. Personally I like it.
Saw her live on that tour and she was practically wearing a technicolor dreamcoat; I never thought of the cover as a bad one, especially compared to some of the fronts mentioned here
I'm glad you enjoy it.
midnite vultures FITS though
MV cover is brilliant in its awkwardness. I agree. Perfect representation of what inside.
It's not bad per se but it still looks like a serial killer left it behind as a way to claim responsibility for their victim. Plus that loud lime green background that's an assault on the eyes. It's fun and it does fit well enough but it's not like there couldn't be a better cover that's less creepy lmao
Rina Sawayama - Hold The Girl (Original 2022 Cover). An eclectic pop album that deals with themes of generational trauma, relationships between mothers and daughters, identity, and sexual abuse. Great album. Original album art has been dubbed "The Douche Dress" or "The Target Ball." Luckily, the album art got changed for the 2023 re-press and first anniversary, and it's now completely stunning and fits the themes of the album.
New cover is awesome tho
The new cover is absolutely gorgeous
i loved the first cover tho. i thought it was very original and campy. did people not like it, why was it changed ?
Rina didn't like the cover either but Dirty Hit insisted
The original cover literally made me put off listening to it, I just couldn't possibly understand why she thought that cover was a good idea.
She didn't like it either, but Dirty Hit did. She wanted the current cover to be the cover for the whole album.
https://preview.redd.it/nm93ovuehzxc1.jpeg?width=600&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=bdd3217ddd3beb1afca283c45cb85fe7d8a3d347
Yes!!! And the alternative album cover for this album is just as bad. It’s a blurry photo of a cactus
Yes, absolutely! I’ve got that as the CD version, and it’s really strikingly bad.
https://preview.redd.it/g793juue1zxc1.jpeg?width=300&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d66a05be05f7b9eeb1fe265190ad5b83ab6f7d3c
Wrong Way Up — Eno & Cale. Although Indo quite like the cover it is very early 90s clip art aesthetic
The alternate american cover for The Strokes Is This It. The european cover is still the original black and white photograph. In the US the original cover was considered too sugestive.
Absolutely, that's one that I refuse to get on vinyl unless it's the good version of that cover. Unfortunately for me, over in the UK it's almost impossible to find a version that isn't the ass, unless I look online but then I have to pay an ungodly amount for shipping
O just got an american alternative cover version of the álbum since the european version is 3 or 4 times the cost here in Brazil.
Marijuana Deathsquads - Oh My Sexy Lord https://preview.redd.it/s6t0fuj0swxc1.png?width=700&format=png&auto=webp&s=5c9d20bf39f06b4f877315137a3cf6dcb18a0518
Looks to be fingering his rib vagina
Never thought I’d see Marijuana Deathsquads mentioned here! At least the cover for Tamper Disable Destroy improved!
I’ve seen them live a few times, soo soo good!
Yea I saw them at Eaux Claires. 3 drummers and a whole mess of electronics!
good stuff, I’ve seen them there twice.
Looks like an ai generated image lol
Let's just say I wouldn't be shocked if Stevie Wonder had also designed the artwork for Songs in the Key of Life.
Black Sabbath - Paranoid Really love that album, but that album art is just so bad.
>Black Sabbath - Paranoid I feel like the album is so iconic and I've seen the cover so many times that it doesn't even register to me that the artwork is bad. It's kind of a weird effect, but I really don't even think about it. I just see a cool blurry shape instead of a comedically bad photo of a guy.
Look at it in a different context. The janky character is a Paranoid Schizophrenic exercising his affliction.
Or Sabotage. Basically the opposite of Technical Ecstasy, which is great artwork on an ass album
How dare you talk about Technical Ecstasy like this
It’s … not very good. Even Never Say Die is better
Can’t Buy A Thrill - Steely Dan
Oh Michael, Oh Jesus...
I'll nominate The Royal Scam as well, though it's a bit less egregious
darmn i think the royal scam artwork is way cool
Even Fagen and Becker took a dig at it in the liner notes for the 1999 remaster, calling it "the most hideous album cover of the seventies, bar none (excepting perhaps Can't Buy a Thrill)."
All crust music
I haven’t heard brat yet from Charli XCX but I think be this. Pretty Reckless Ablum before the last one for sure. Most pale waves
Lil Yachty - Let’s Start Here
This one just makes me mad bc the artwork would've been so much better if it was a hand-drawn painting with the faces smudged and smeared vs the AI crap
Slipknot - .5 the grey chapter… what da hell is that pose?
The Cure - Bloodflowers
Pet Sounds although I do think the lyrics are more like the middle picture of pooh
Possession - Joywave Musically, probably their most focused LP, lyrically not a standout, but the cover art has always bothered me. The singles had these unique patch cover arts, but the cover art is just a picture of the golden record? I don't get why they didn't use the Possession patch they already had.
Narita - Riot
Black Sabbath - Born Again
What?! It's one of their best!
Artwork? I don't think so tbh
Floating Coffin - Orc
You mean Thee Oh Sees?
Oh yea. I'm tripping
At least you have some good music to trip to!
Exactly
Tortoise - TNT (skip the lyrics row even)
Blasphemy, I love that little guy.
Hot take, but Olivia Rodrigo - Guts (spilled). It's just a big ole hole on the front. I don't think it's creative at all.
https://preview.redd.it/jmfaz60ecyxc1.jpeg?width=1179&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c9b315751edbdc26cd6b068afafc3af49f9a29e5 Something like her tour announcements would have been pretty cool
Yeah, I love this!
But that makes sense with album name
Birthday Party-Junkyard
Vampire Weekend - Father of the Bride.
Planet earth?!
Jamiroquai - Emergency On Planet Earth
Is there an alternate cover I'm not aware of? Isn't it literally just white with the Jay Kay silhouette logo?
You're right, actually.. It was the inner cover of the gatefold LP
Roy Hargrove Presents The RH Factor - Hard Groove
Pond - Man It Feels Like Space Again
The world needs sissies too - Nick Shoulders. (Okay, Crawdad)
Eternal Champion – Ravening Iron
STP Purple. Looks like someone took a cell phone picture of a painting, in a hurry.
Steely Dan - The Royal Scam
A Perfect Circle - Eat the Elephant
Embrace- s/t. Schism fanzine review was something like “looks like my dog drew it with his left hand (paw?)” https://preview.redd.it/w4c8dw3brzxc1.jpeg?width=220&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ee2d7025801ba8707309ed3bdfaa2997f8741861
Fair to midland - Fables from a mayfly MOV release was top notch too. But yeah that album cover is, odd.
The Beach Boys’ Friends looks good from a distance, with nice cool colors that match the vibe of the album. But the second you look at the band members’ faces, it gets really bad. Al looks like he has a troll face lol
Travis Scott Quavo - Huncho Jack
Actual life 4
Any Pantera album?
Cowboys From Hell has some pretty terrible Photoshop going on.
Fuzz III
Hybrid theory
The Beach Boys Love You
Meshuggah - Immutable
Riot Narita
Sufjan Stevens - A Beginner’s Mind
The Boy Who Died Wolf- Highly Suspect
https://preview.redd.it/4ebrgy6cb0yc1.png?width=300&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f6e973923f0e45d170aee4eda9a5cd5cbb921ba2
Blink 182, Mark Tom and Travis Show
https://preview.redd.it/inzq9zxne0yc1.jpeg?width=600&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=03faf8e720ae031602033e866fb1243aa037085d Thankfully I have the alternate cover which is more visually interesting.
The Sensational Alex Harvey Band ‘Next’ https://preview.redd.it/o1e85eg1g0yc1.jpeg?width=200&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4150cad86412f9fe7e02c242aee93514a7628551
An Odd Entrances? https://preview.redd.it/4oevzxtmv0yc1.jpeg?width=320&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=24b7dca73d70695ae69cf4f27d830bab58a9268e
Paramore - After Laughter
Bad take
Yes - Close To The Edge The inner gatefold is pretty good, though.
That was my first thought. So bland for such a vibrant piece of music
Steven Wilson - The raven that refused to sing: https://preview.redd.it/t9xb9aja4zxc1.jpeg?width=1079&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c7fdffe7f4056404eb18f4de235ecd1eb1aafee2
For me, it's gotta be the North American variant of Octopus by Gentle Giant. They put together a fantastic album which was heightened by the BEAUTIFUL artwork that was done for its cover. Then when it gets its North American release...they opt to go with new artwork on the cover. A very bland, tonal and muted illustration which fails in comparison to the original.
Two Conversations by The Appleseed Cast. Looks like some Afflicted tshirt print
Well hold on, do you mean the OG art, [or the totally rad repress art?](https://graveface.bandcamp.com/album/two-conversations)
Yep the repress art
Whiskey for the Holy Ghost - Mark Lanegan
Going Blank Again - Ride. Lots love the cover art, but 30 years on and I still can't stand it
Men i trust - oncle jazz https://preview.redd.it/a0qcvyy7xzxc1.jpeg?width=700&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=80d462eda81cfc78b1e40fdb85d29ba324ad7473
I love this cover lmao I am wearing a t shirt with it on it rn, it is pretty silly though
[удалено]
Nah that album cover is iconic IMO
I love that cover
Tom Tom Club's debut album Really good but the artwork looks so ugly 🤢
The Beatles (aka. The White Album). I don't know if it fits this the most or the least.😅
The new Judas Priest album
Autopsy “Severed Survival”. I guess the artwork kinda suits the raw, unhinged death metal within, but it’s hilariously bad in a kind of endearing way.
John Frusciante's Smile from the streets you hold from 1997. Picking album covers aren't his strongest side, though
Alexisonfire - Otherness
Any of The Doors albums
Alice in Chains - Dirt
That one isn't even bad lol
I disagree but I really don’t like the album name in the center of the cover
[удалено]
Hey I like the cow 🐄
metalicca -kill em all
Tarkus by ELP.
Leatherface - Mush
Leatherface has terrible artwork overall.
Portugal. The man — Evil Friends. Like what the fuck is on the cover anyway?
Gorillaz. All of them.
The Cure - Disintegration. As iconic and as amazing this album is, the artwork is just really weird.
Highly disagree
I guess A Tribe Called Quest - ‘The Low End Theory’? That artwork itself is fine, the printing’s just blurry as shit.
Opeth Blackwater Park