Indie Digi Pack... Back Cover

Contrasting Album Cover Genre- R&B

The genre R&B has quite a distinctive look that is very familiar in the music industry. This look is represented on the Album Covers. Here are an example of the R&B covers that I have found, from Artists such as Usher, Jay-Z and Shontelle.

The look of an R&B artist usually consists of an urban feel with the males dressed usually in a simple shirt and a leather jacket and blazer with a cap. The outfit is very simple but this is usually because the music video consists of dancing, which the audience will focus on more. This is then portrayed on the Album cover with a still of a dance move. A lot of the male artists also show wealth and their origins of the music by wearing a gold chain or some type of jewellery.  

The females seem to be usually dressed slightly sexy, with less clothes worn without revealing too much as the R&B females seem to express a lot of dominance, independence and thrive on being strong, which I feel they express in their outfits, by attracting the males, but not letting them see more. This sexy feel is represented on their Album Covers also. 

Some conventions of a R&B Album cover are- 

+ Usually Black & White with colourful writing.

+ Urban such as Ushers Graffiti feel

+ Posing, or a still of a dance move

+ Air Brushed

+ Close Up

+ Parental Advisory due to the Genre Lyrics

+ Limited Clothes or Blazer/Jacket

+ Close Up

+ Luxuries

Album Cover Genre - Indie Acoustic

By researching into the Indie Acoustic theme our group created a mood board which we felt best represents the theme overall. Examples of the Artists we found who use the Indie theme are Lucy Rose, Kodaline, Haim and Angus & Julia Stone.

As you can see the images that feature on the Album cover are extremely artistic and photography seems to play a big role in the Indie Acoustic genre.

The majority of the Albums have a bright but soft colour palette which gives the Albums a feel of calm, light and vintage feel which seems to be a familiar convention of a Indie Acoustic cover or image. The sun seems to play an important role in a lot of these covers also, which gives the covers a natural and organic feel without boarding onto Folk and Country music.

Although two of the covers as shown are in Black and White giving the intention that it has a 'back to basics' feel and that the music is all that matters, but the Artists are still very dominant on the cover showing that it is their voice and their music. Lastly the middle image is has a completely different feel to it, as the background image of the Artist is in black and white, but his name is multi-coloured in paint running down the wall.

I feel I have touched upon some of the Conventions of an Indie Acoustic cover but here are some more -
+ Unique
+ Artistic
+ Western
+ Country
+ 1 or 2 People, unless it is the Artist

The In's and Out's of a Digi Pack

A Digi Pack is a style of packaging for Albums and CD's; they usually consist of a gate fold which is a book style, with a paper board or card stock outer and a plastic tray to hold the CD inside. The Digi Pack benefits the Artist of the CD as it will represent the Artist and the genre of the music; it will also  embody a theme and a message about the Artists image. The Digi Pack predominately sells the Artist to the customers and encourages them to buy it, which they will then listen to their music.

Mumford & Sons- Album Cover

I have decided to look at the folk and indie band, Mumford & Sons Album, Sigh No More, Album art. I initially chose this as it attracted me through the use of the colours, textured back and  juxtaposition feel. Below I have additionally found the image of the Inlay inside the Album, which on my mindmap below I have not evaluated but I will do an additional section in this Blog post. Unfortunately due to the pen and paper use my mind map is not eay to view on the image, so I will do a write up of these notes also.

This is a review of the Album Cover.
+The cropped out shops either side of the shop Mumford & Sons shows their importance, and that they should be the band being listened to, this is supported by the shops either side being empty.
+ Mumford & Sons look like mannequins, like they are for sale.
+ Folk band, in an Urban setting.
+The low angle from the street, appears to be like you are walking past. - Dominanace and power, as it catches your eye.
+Bold black writing, which contrasts the white building. It appears like it is resting on the pavement; It could suggest it is the name of the shop. The title is smaller than the name, so it may be of less importance?
+ The musical instruments in the picture inhance the 'Band Feel'.
+ Clear windows/ No blinds. Shows they are open for people to listen to the music. Wheres in the other shops there is a closed door, and curtains.
+ The colourful flowers and pink windows on one side of the image - different shop and the other side featuring dark and black and white with old pain flaking off the other side inicates that Mumford & Sons are stuck in the middle, as they made their own genre (out of the ordinary folk).
+ They are wearing folky clothes, away from the pop culture. It has a vintage old feel.
+The back links to the front cover in a sense it has the window, this time the content signs such as the open window, gives you the impression to come in and listen of them letting out the music.
+ The texture of the back adds to the vintage feel further.
+The text of the song names gives the impression they are also spilling out the open window. These song Titles also have a arty/indie feel to them.
+ In the building on the right there is also an image of a goat, this links to the country origins of their music and this shows that the group's genre focuses on folk-style music.
+ The '&' shows originallity and old characters that were used.
+ The target audience of this album is vast as it is an indie band, which potentially have many fans. Although the main type of person that would be interested in this music is someone who wanted to unique and get a fresh array of music that is different to mainstream songs.
+ It may also be aimed at audienceswho like to feel the same sense of unity that is gained from, folk-style music and preferto unite with other who have the same country folk interest.This is deferred through the use of elementsthat help highlight country vibes and show a united front portrayed by the band.
+ The title of the CD- Sigh No More, correspons to the music genre being carefree and also the mood highlighted being chilled and calm as there are no pressures.
+ They are shown in a relxaing setting where they feel comfortable with the people around them showing the genre of the music to me light and emphasise community rather than negativity.
+ On the inside of the CD there is a closerpicture of the band, they are shown sitting on the windows that corresponds to the building on the front of the CD cover. However in this picture the windows are showing that the audiences having now purchased he CD are on their journey to exploring the world of the indie country folk, and also showing tat, shows the genre is finding its way to the outside world.
+ After knowing this the back page hold a slightly different meaning, as the window is open and no one is there it perhaps shows that the band have succeededin escaping into the outside world and becoming more appreciated.
+ This layout takes the audience on a narrative journey.
+ An enigma is created to their true identity which will persuede audiences to purchase th album and interact with the band on a more personal level.

Album Cover Analysis- Lana Del Rey

+The picture is of Lana Del Rey herself, in a garden type setting, staring directly into the camera.

+The size of her name on the Album indicates her importance and that it is her album alone, and about her voice more than her image and album style.

+ Born to Die, the name of the album additionally adds to the meloncholic feel of the Album cover.

+Her name in white indicates her innocence and possibly the stand out of that and the blue sky. The blue writing for 'Born To Die' suggests that the coordination of it with the sky initially makes it less important and her name of more importance.

+ The positioning of Lana Del Rey can suggest that she is powerful and the most important of the Album due to her being in the middle of the cover.

 +Treatment Signs- The camera on a low angle onto her shows she is slightly more dominant and powerful than the audience and that linked with her staring straight into the camera makes this dominance seem more intimidating, and strong.

+The setting is a soft country looking background again showing a contrast in the calm, fresh countryside and her more stern, 'born to die', unhappy exterior.

+ The colour and strength of the lighting gives a feel of a 'perfect neighbourhood' and housewife feel. This and her unhappiness in the title and image can show that she may not be happy and content with the world she is in. Additionally the link to her red/ orange lips and red bra can suggest more...

+Her white shirt suggest that she is fresh, young, and innocent, but the red bra underneath tells you that the exterior may be innocent but her interior may be tougher, like the title suggests.

+ The red/orange lips can additionally suggest that she may want to escape a 'perfect exterior'.

+The shadow in her eyes may make her stare seem darker, along with the heavy mascara. The mouth slightly open or pouting and in an orange tone can initially indicate the importance of her voice or be a sexual attraction.

+The focus of the Album, in your eye is to her as it is slightly clearer, but around her is not much different. This can suggest her power, and significance.