What makes a perfect album is highly subjective, and sometimes, we might not even be able to articulate what it is about a piece of music that speaks to us. Oftentimes, an amazing song or album just does. We don’t have to over analyze it. But it’s a little bit easier to dissect album cover art. Personally, I tend to dissociate the cover photo from the music itself. I can love an album and think nothing of the photo or love a photo and be disappointed in the music. But when they come together to perfectly compliment one another, it makes the record a true masterpiece.
The Images That Could Be Album Covers Instagram account shares photos that could fit any genre of music, yet they all would work perfectly as album artwork. I can imagine stumbling upon any one of them while flipping through records at a vinyl shop, and clearly, they’ve mastered the art of album photos, as the page has amassed an impressive 102k followers through sharing only 452 posts. Whether you love rock, metal, indie, country, rap, classical or pop music, you’re sure to find something that you could see your favorite band releasing!
Regardless of what your personal favorite style of music is, there are certain album covers out there that almost anyone will recognize: The Beatles’ ‘Abbey Road’; Andy Warhol’s famous, vibrant banana on ‘The Velvet Underground & Nico’, that naked baby featured on Nirvana’s ‘Nevermind’, and Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Rumours’. But of course, there are plenty more iconic album covers out there.
According to Billboard’s list of the greatest album covers of all time, nothing tops ‘The Velvet Underground & Nico’. But not far behind are Patti Smith’s ‘Horses’, Led Zeppelin’s self-titled album, Pink Floyd’s ‘Dark Side of the Moon’, Elvis Presley’s self-titled album, The Beatles’ ‘Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’, and Joy Division’s ‘Unknown Pleasures’. Not only are these all excellent albums, their cover images perfectly encapsulate the music they represent, and it doesn’t hurt that they’re also great for posters, t-shirts and other merchandise.
To learn more about what it takes to create an excellent album cover, we reached out to professional photographer Sergio Garcia, who was kind enough to have a chat with Bored Panda. Sergio is well versed in a variety of photography styles, including album photoshoots, so we wanted to hear his expertise on the topic. “From my perspective as a photographer and artist, a great album cover should capture attention and provoke curiosity, leaving the viewer wondering about its meaning and connection to the artist or their music,” he shared. “The cover doesn't necessarily need to directly relate to the specific single, but it should reflect the current stage of the artist's career and artistic journey.”
We also asked Sergio if he could share any examples of album covers that he loves. “While there are a lot of album covers out there that I enjoy, two that really stand out to me are Justin Timberlake's ‘FutureSex/LoveSounds’ and Moby's ‘Play’,” he told Bored Panda. “There's something about the energy and vibe of those images that really speaks to me. And when it comes to my own work, I'm particularly proud of the cover I shot for Andie Case's ‘Bubblegum and Cigarettes’. It was a last-minute idea from her, but the collaboration we came up with was so fun and creative.”
On the other hand, we wanted to know if there’s anything that should be avoided when creating an album cover. “It's difficult to identify anything that can completely ruin an album cover,” Sergio shared. “That being said, as photographers, it's important to ensure that we capture the essence of what the artist is trying to convey through their music. We should strive to create an image that aligns with the concept and overall message of the album, while still bringing our own unique perspective and creative vision to the table. At the same time, it's important to avoid straying too far from the concept, as this can potentially confuse listeners and create a disjointed experience.”
And when it comes to why it’s so important to put thought into an album cover, Sergio says, “A great album cover can be a powerful tool in capturing the essence of an artist's personal and creative state of mind at a particular moment in time. It can serve as a valuable piece of the record and help to convey the message and vibe of the music.”
