Packaging

Album: Era Vulgaris
Artist: Queens Of The Stone Age
Cover Artist: Jason Noto
Design Studio: Morning Breath Inc.

It’s been a while since i’ve seen any album covers that spins my wheels enough that i feel like talking about it. But when Jason Noto, from the very talented and creative Morning Breath Inc sent us the latest QOSTA cover and all the accompanying artwork, i decided i oughta pull my finger out.

Album: Madvillainy 2: The Box
Artist: Madvillain
Cover Artist: Jeff Jank

As a huge fan of the original, I was pleasantly surprised to find out that Stones Throw have just released a reworking of the classic hip-hop album Madvillainy (2004) with a special box of goodies, or as they much more eloquently put it:
“a big ass box full of cool ass shit that you won’t […]

Album: Mange-Disque
Artist: ALB
Cover Artist: Emilie VAST

I initially though the packaging for ALB’s album was of a retro sandwhich iron. Yum! I love toasted sandwhiches but Charlie from Discograph informed me it was actually a retro 45 record player called a “Univox Mange-Disque” manufactured from 1975-1980. This made a lot more sense than having the CD package based of a toaster. […]

Album: Icky Thump
Artist: The White Stripes

Here’s another nominee for a Grammy in “Category 89: Best Boxed Or Special Limited Edition Package”. The album was released as limited edition USB
drives, each of the 6,666 produced (3,333 of Meg & 3,333 of Jack) containing the full album in Apple Lossless format. More info here about the bands obsession with the number 3.

Album: The Shindig Fantastico
Artist: Superhotjoy
Design Studio: Disturbance

Oh look it’s another cover which features photos in a natural history museum. This time the Durban Museum. Don’t worry this one’s different and while not having as polished photos as the others it’s still an interesting cover. Also it has an interesting title.

Album: Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space
Artist: Spiritualized
Design Studio: Farrow

If ever there was a limited edition packaging that was never meant to be heard it’s this one. Spiritualized’s “Ladies and Gentlemen We are Floating in Space” came presented in a prescription medicine box with 12 mini CD’s in blister packs. The problem would be actually listing to the album. Changing the CD 12 times […]

Album: Directors Cuts
Artist: Extreme Music

I have nothing but love for Extreme Music’s “Directors Cuts” series. Not only is it some of the best production music you can buy it and makes even the simplest thing come alive it also comes in the funkiest packaging around.

Album: A Meditation Mass
Artist: Yatha Sidhra

You’re probably like me in the fact you’d never heard of Yatha Sidhra let alone this album. But I’ve seen this around and finally got some good artwork to show it off.

Album: Be The Twilight
Artist: Faker
Cover Artist: David Homer & Aaron Hayward
Design Studio: Debaser

Sydney band Faker settled in to Los Angeles during the past northern hemisphere summer to record their second full-length album, Be The Twilight. It’s a collection of songs about the space between day and night and lead singer/songwriter Nathan Hudson’s own fixation with twilight and facing your fears.

Album: Under Giant Trees
Artist: Efterklang
Cover Artist: Nan Na Hvass
Design Studio: Hvass & Hannibal

I came across this album cover for ‘Efterklang’s’ mini-album ‘Under Giant Trees’ in the latest Communication Arts - Design Annual, a design publication that always publishes amazing and inspiring work, and this beautiful cover was a standout for me. So instead of me waffling on about it like a clueless idiot, i thought i’d let […]