Album Covers-Preliminary Ideas

Before I begin to create my album cover for the new single 'Bring Me To Life' by our band 'Forgetting Last Friday', I have created some preliminary ideas which will act as plans for my final cover. Hopefully from this I will learn how to apply the codes and conventions of album covers which I have learnt from from the analysis. 

Album Cover #1

This album cover uses the contrasting colours black and white, which are also a convention of the Rock genre, to create a strong stiking impact on the audience, an example of this being used on current album covers in the 'XX' and their simple black background and white cross concept. The image being created by the lines reflects the title of the single 'Bring Me To Life' as it is an attempt to replicate a heart monitor machiene found in hospitals. The font reflects the calligraphy used when in rebellion associated with the genre, as it is in another colour of the rock genre red this shows the thought behind the conventions and codes as it represents death and anger, which is obvious in the singles name.

Album Cover #2

Many album covers consist of the artist being on the front cover, this allows the audience to make an imediate connection to the singer, as they can identify that their new single/album is being released. The photo used on this cover was not purposely taken, however by making this preliminary idea reflects my understanding of how when the artist is on the front cover that the shot taken is usually a mid-shot or a close-up, entirely depending on their facial expressions and make-up to sell the single. However in this idea by making the lips red and over laying a tear drop on the cheek reflects the famous american pop artist Litchenstein, and his ways on cartooning. This concept also includes the analysis of famous artwork used on 'Sgt Peppers Lonely Heart Club Band' album and applying this to my own work.

Album Cover #3

The whole idea behind this design was a play on the title 'Bring Me to Life' by using the famous character Little Red Riding, who dies in her fairy tale, and a ghosting effect to create the conventions of the gothic genre. Also this design is very different as it does not typically uses the codes and conventions of the gothic rock genre, and that no picture of the band or members is used, this makes the cover original and gives it credit as it is more like a piece of artwork than a album cover. However the distorted font codes the fantasy/fairy tale aspect of the artwork which is far from reality which is reflected in the title 'Bring Me To Life'.

Album Cover #4

This last design is very minimalist but achieves a lot through the use of codes, colours and conventions. The colours black, white and red are all colours of the rock genre and code the youth, and simplicity as in this importance of the band and their instruments. The silhouette is a clear representation of the guitarist in the band also reflecting the importance of the instruments in the band.