Album Covers of 2007 (Part I): The Worst
Written on January 17, 2008
Packaging can make a big difference in selling the product, even in these digital times – iTunes CoverFlow made sure that we all still obsess over a “complete” collection of album covers. With that idea in mind, these are the most unexcusable 2007 album covers from artists who should have known better.
Burial “Untrue”
This cover looks like a first sketch concept. I almost ignored this album entirely – and it’s a great album – because the cover is so crap. 
Radiohead “In Rainbows (Download art)”
Speaking of style voids, I still don’t know if Radiohead made this system-font-splattered cover intentionally horrible. Obsessive fans created their own artwork and become more emotionally attached to the digital files. That is the genius of Radiohead.
Smashing Pumpkins “Zeitgeist”
I love Shepard Fairey and the whole Obey The Giant phenomenon. I even bought his book, Supply and Demand. But this is worse than Gish’s moppet-haired Billy shot. None of Fairey’s subversive strengths are played up, maybe because the album concept Billy Corgan envisioned is underwhelming too.
Satellite Party “Self Titled”
Either that’s the stupidest makeup job in album art history or the worst Photoshop color job. Either way, damn.
Megadeth “United Abominations”
The sloppiest in a discography of ham-fisted offenses to visual design. 
MIA “Kala”
I love me some M.I.A. I know she’s trying to do the whole “Power To The People” thing and use cover art to extend her philosophy, but after searching worldwide for producers, she couldn’t find a graphic designer with InDesign experience?
[...] already expressed my opinions about the Worst Album Covers of 2007, it’s time to talk about the Best of 2007. These are the covers that I thought did something [...]