Interpol: Our Love To Admire

At first glance the cover looks like an image from National Geographic or a still from an Animal Planet documentary. On closer inspection you see that the animals are in-fact taxidermy, most likely shot in a public museum. The cover and inside imagery are the work of New York photographer Seth Smoot. Most of the images are staged in a dry or cold landscape and depict harsh scenes from the animal world.

Somehow the artwork seems to make sense when listening to the album. I’m sure there was a lot more thought put into the concept other than the fact it looks really cool. Interpol’s traditional black, white and red colour scheme is gone (which could reflect the bands move to a major record label) but a bleak atmosphere is still prevalent.

There is also some beautiful typography provided by David Calderley.

Interpol: Our Love To Admire (inside - page 1)

Interpol: Our Love To Admire (inside - page 5)

Interpol: Our Love To Admire (inside - page 5)

Interpol: Our Love To Admire (inside - page 9)

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Interpol: Our Love To Admire

Interpol: Our Love To Admire

At first glance the cover looks like an image from National Geographic or a still from an Animal Planet documentary. On closer inspection you see that the animals are in-fact taxidermy, most likely shot in a public museum. The cover and inside imagery are the work of New York photographer Seth Smoot. Most of the images are staged in a dry or cold landscape and depict harsh scenes from the animal world.

Somehow the artwork seems to make sense when listening to the album. I’m sure there was a lot more thought put into the concept other than the fact it looks really cool. Interpol’s traditional black, white and red colour scheme is gone (which could reflect the bands move to a major record label) but a bleak atmosphere is still prevalent.

There is also some beautiful typography provided by David Calderley.

Interpol: Our Love To Admire (inside - page 1)

Interpol: Our Love To Admire (inside - page 5)

Interpol: Our Love To Admire (inside - page 5)

Interpol: Our Love To Admire (inside - page 9)

Posted by Ash on 26 July, 2007
Album: Our Love To Admire
Artist: Interpol
Cover Artist: Seth Smoot
Record Label: Capitol
Design Studio: Graphic Therapy
00s, Album Art, Alternative, Photography, Typography




  • Neilo

    http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/43615-album-art-cop-interpol-vs-ola-podrida

    Interpol used the same artwork as another band as part of their promotional campaign. There’s more info about the artwork in the Pitchfork article. Still a cool cover though.

  • James Eland

    Let me clarify.
    The Interpol artwork is the same album campaign as “Kosheen” RESIST album, see for yourself.
    http://www.kosheen.com/releases/?id=486
    Naughty Naughty!! Not Cool at all!!!

  • Pamela Fuller

    WoW! Who designed the Kosheen album cover, i remember seeing this a while back?

  • Ash

    I don’t think Kosheen’s album (which is still very nice) is the same as the Interpol one. Same type of animal but apart from that totally different?

  • Simon Clayton

    Has anyone seen all the Kosheen series, its clearly the same concept as well as look and feel.
    http://www.kosheen.com/releases/?id=8
    http://www.kosheen.com/releases/?id=7
    http://www.kosheen.com/releases/?id=487
    Get it straight mate its been ripped off!
    How Painful!!!

  • Mike

    Ahh of course, Kosheen. That’s where I’ve seen this done before. It looked eerily familiar.

  • Ash

    Hey Simon,

    after seeing the other releases it does look more familiar. I guess thats the risk designers run into when using common imagery like the natural history museum stuff.

  • Thomas Berger

    Guys, guys –– have you seen this!
    My very first reaction was “bad kosheen ripoff”.
    But then……unbelievable.
    This cover is quite simply a toss, and a predictable
    reaction to the decline of the importance of album art by the last batch of designers riding this particular gravy train.
    Check it out!
    http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/page/news/47174-interpol-kosheen-artwork-more-than-coincidence

  • Daniel Brown
  • Ben Johnson

    As I’m rather, er, cool to Coldplay I wasn’t aware of what was going on with the design
    what message is the band sending?
    I’ll have to check it out.!

  • Big John

    i just saw this cover for the first time today and instantly thought of kosheen covers. despite the fact that the coldplay cover is such a blatent rip-off, i would guess Graphic Theropy doesn’t seem to mind. the question is, does Blue Source?

  • Simon Bond

    I know this is terribly anti design education, but I don’t like this album cover cuz I don’t get it. Its not a great album cover…its Starbucks.

  • Phil Costin

    By designing a Coldplay album you will be given a portfolio piece that will get you more work whether it’s good work or not.
    Im courious what album cover design masters like Peter Saville would say about this one.

  • blueflower

    kosheen’s ‘resist’ artwork is fantastic, but their latest lp, ‘damage’ looks even better!

    if the landscape / sky pictures on their website are a taste of future single sleeves, then it’s another beautiful set of campaign art…

    http://www.kosheen.com/releases/?id=469

  • Jason

    This David C. fella needs to go out and buy some design books…..
    nice cover from kosheen!

  • Kevin Manner
  • jeroen

    I don’t care – Our Love To Admire is a great album.

  • Stan Smith

    WORST COVER EVER. RIPOFF!

  • Liv

    Those photos were taken at the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia. The museum has hundreds of taxidermy dioramas set against painted backgrounds in little alcoves. It’s only 12$ to get in, right next to Moore college of art, I highly recommend it.

  • Base

    Looks like the new Made Out Of Babies album is the next one in the series… Weak!

    http://www.madeoutofbabies.com/images/bg_wolves.jpg
    http://www.seldonhunt.com/procsim/MOOB1-2.jpg

  • Alex

    One of my favourite albums. If you listen to some of the songs, like Pace is the Tricks, the lyrics are interelated to the cover

  • http://cpluv.com/kingcraig Craig

    I thought the photo’s were done at the New York Natural History Museum. I was there in December and I remember thinking one of the displays was uncanny.
    Plus, they’re from New Yoik aren’t they?
    Maybe they were taken all over the place.

    Best album of 2007 anyway.

  • Me

    The Interpol cover comes from an African diorama in the Cabela’s in Utah. Check this out… http://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-media/product-gallery/B000PY32CO/ref=cm_ciu_pdp_images_2?ie=UTF8&index=2

    IMHO not a great cover but most definitely a GREAT album!

  • guest

    Actually this cover image was used by Ola Podrida first. So give some credit.