I was thinking today about the link between an album cover and the subliminal message an artist is trying to send. Back in the old day, before the reign of illegal downloading, the artwork in an album was a deal breaker. Intrinsically it was the driving force luring you, defining the nature of its contents in sweeping first impression. I remember rifling through c.ds and stopping once id seen something remotely cool I could walk out of the shop holding. The artwork of an album cover was and still should be a distinctive feature,a synthesis if you will of the artists work. When I think of the Velvet Underground the image of a banana is ingrained in my mind, or what about the sex pistols Never Mind the Bollocks album the ransom style lettering summed up the belligerent nature of the band as they fought against society norms. Can you imagine songs without music videos simultaneously what would an album be without a cover? Music is an aesthetic experience and the visual representation of an artist is hugely prominent to give us a greater idea of the image trying to be conveyed. Sure we're getting music for free but is it really at the cost of true art?
"Seeing comes before Words" John Berger
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