Menomena: Friend and Foe
My favorite new band of 2007 so far! And some of the best cover art I’ve seen in a while. Illustrated by Craig Thompson, best known for his graphic novel ‘Blankets’.
The cover has four sides and the die-cuts reveal the disc or tray artwork behind. Rotating the disc creates variations of the artwork. A brilliantly executed concept that makes the artwork interactive and fun.
Update: The artwork featured above is the iTunes artwork. Below are photos of the actual CD version of the artwork with its interactive die cuts.
When the band recently toured Europe they asked Craig to come along and draw live on stage. Craig blogged about it here.
Pitchfork also elaborate on the collaboration here. Seim explains the collaboration like so: “[Thompson]’s stretching a giant (approx. 3′x9′) piece of butcher paper horizontally across the back of the stages and visually interpreting our set behind us with a brush & ink as we play. Pretentious? Maybe. But super fun all the same.”
Photos stolen from here.
And what does Craig do with the piece at the end of the concert? Tears it up and gives it out to the audience!
Here’s a video of Ash playing with the cover which will explain the concept of the cover to all those who can’t read properly.
If record labels want listeners to buy more albums in-store instead of online then they need to encourage more artwork concepts like this. The music and art mix perfectly to create an experience you won’t get from just a download.
Lastly you can get the artwork as a poster for a measly $10 on Barsuk’s website here.
taotechuck:
I completely missed the boat on these guys. It’s a great cover. I’ve only listened to the Wet and Rusting EP so far, but on first listen I love it. Thanks for the heads up.
# 26 Aug 07 at 5:02 pm
Ash:
I like the little pockets of colour. Really nice stuff.
# 26 Aug 07 at 8:20 pm
Ash:
Ahh shit I just realized Craig also did Good-Bye Chunky Rice. I loved that comic.
# 26 Aug 07 at 8:48 pm
Amy:
That cover is amazing.
# 28 Aug 07 at 3:47 am
The Decemberists: The Crane Wife » Sleevage » Album Cover Blog. Music, Art, Design.:
[…] Menomena: Friend and Foe […]
# 13 Sep 07 at 11:36 am
Kyle:
This was a really great concept that went well with the album.
# 07 Nov 07 at 1:05 am
Arne:
I did one sorta like this one;
http://artoonator.deviantart.com/art/Going-Bananas-67617408
# 12 Nov 07 at 1:53 am
Darrin:
Menomena is hardly a “new band.”
# 10 Dec 07 at 7:17 am
Ash:
Hey Darrin,
I think Adam means new band to him.
# 02 Jan 08 at 11:34 pm
nathan:
Worked on me - I bought the CD after reading Blankets and learning about Craig’s connection with these guys. The cover *is* amazing and the music is great, too, which is a bonus. And, I just ordered the vinyl version of this along with I Am the Fun Blame Monster! which also has creative cover stuff goin’ on.
# 06 Mar 08 at 3:45 am
Morgan Jordan:
I’ve heard some of their songs yet seeing this makes me want to buy the album so much more!!
# 07 May 08 at 2:51 pm