The Best album cover since POP poll

I went for NLOTH. The rest are pretty awful but here are my rankings from best to worst:

NLOTH
SOE
Bomb
ATYCLB
SOI

For me its either ATYCLB or SOE. Went with the first but could just as well have chosen SOE. Its not a brilliant cover or anything but its good in relation to the theme of the album and its not awkward (SOI), extremely boring (NLOTH) or completely random (HTDAAB).

For me its either ATYCLB or SOE. Went with the first but could just as well have chosen SOE. Its not a brilliant cover or anything but its good in relation to the theme of the album and its not awkward (SOI), extremely boring (NLOTH) or completely random (HTDAAB).

What do you like about the ATYCLB cover? To me, it’s just 4 fellas standing around in an airport in France. Does it represent something more profound? Am I missing something?

Quote from: Melon on September 20, 2024, 06:36:52 AM

For me its either ATYCLB or SOE. Went with the first but could just as well have chosen SOE. Its not a brilliant cover or anything but its good in relation to the theme of the album and its not awkward (SOI), extremely boring (NLOTH) or completely random (HTDAAB).

What do you like about the ATYCLB cover? To me, it’s just 4 fellas standing around in an airport in France. Does it represent something more profound? Am I missing something?

The fact 4 fellas standing around an airport is better then the other dog shit covers they’ve had since Pop is actually quite amazing.

Quote from: Larry's Lovebucket on September 20, 2024, 12:01:41 PM

Quote from: Melon on September 20, 2024, 06:36:52 AM

For me its either ATYCLB or SOE. Went with the first but could just as well have chosen SOE. Its not a brilliant cover or anything but its good in relation to the theme of the album and its not awkward (SOI), extremely boring (NLOTH) or completely random (HTDAAB).

What do you like about the ATYCLB cover? To me, it’s just 4 fellas standing around in an airport in France. Does it represent something more profound? Am I missing something?

The fact 4 fellas standing around an airport is better then the other dog shit covers they’ve had since Pop is actually quite amazing.

Hard to argue with this. Even so, I still say NLOTH has a certain je ne sais quoi. If you want to know what that means, ask Martin. He taught me well in London.

It's trying to convey a back to basics approach.  Four regularly dressed guys in a room.  A big room.



 

Don't really like any of them and they need to do something other than a B & W photo, but i guess ATYCLB works the best- although i voted for No Line simply because it was different.

So I will own up to voting SOI.

Yes, I do like it and think it's a powerful image of holding on to one's innocence. Like the Innocence live shows and songs themeless, it's part of the best overall album and tour package since Pop as well. If Peter Saville had used a found image or an original photo (live or sculpture) of father and son in this pose for Joy Division, everyone would have said it was cool.

I was disappointed SOE wasn't better represented (and similarly edited to reflect a companion piece) by the cover. If they had to use family, one of their parental shots (there are quite a few band parent photos in the archive) could have been more successful.

My ranking:

SOI
NLOTH
ATYCLB
SOE
HTDAAB

And yeah SOI is a better album cover than Pop. If you google covers with a band member in each quarter, it's been done to death over 6 decades.

I think if you all of the album covers in order, there's a narrative that can be seen.  I've thought this since I was in high school in the 90s and it still makes sense.

And yeah SOI is a better album cover than Pop. If you google covers with a band member in each quarter, it's been done to death over 6 decades.

Art should not have to be explained. 99.9% of the people who see the SOI cover will not know it’s the drummers son. Most people just see shirtless older man hugging the waist of a shirtless younger man.

SOI is a horrible album cover.

Quote from: So Cruel on September 20, 2024, 12:06:54 PM

Quote from: Larry's Lovebucket on September 20, 2024, 12:01:41 PM

Quote from: Melon on September 20, 2024, 06:36:52 AM

For me its either ATYCLB or SOE. Went with the first but could just as well have chosen SOE. Its not a brilliant cover or anything but its good in relation to the theme of the album and its not awkward (SOI), extremely boring (NLOTH) or completely random (HTDAAB).

What do you like about the ATYCLB cover? To me, it’s just 4 fellas standing around in an airport in France. Does it represent something more profound? Am I missing something?

The fact 4 fellas standing around an airport is better then the other dog shit covers they’ve had since Pop is actually quite amazing.

Hard to argue with this. Even so, I still say NLOTH has a certain je ne sais quoi. If you want to know what that means, ask Martin. He taught me well in London.

Coolness.

So I will own up to voting SOI.

Yes, I do like it and think it's a powerful image of holding on to one's innocence. Like the Innocence live shows and songs themeless, it's part of the best overall album and tour package since Pop as well. If Peter Saville had used a found image or an original photo (live or sculpture) of father and son in this pose for Joy Division, everyone would have said it was cool.

I was disappointed SOE wasn't better represented (and similarly edited to reflect a companion piece) by the cover. If they had to use family, one of their parental shots (there are quite a few band parent photos in the archive) could have been more successful.

My ranking:

SOI
NLOTH
ATYCLB
SOE
HTDAAB

I’m in the minority that likes SOI’s cover. I can totally relate to it.

NLOTH is beautiful but way more meaningless to me.

ATYCLB is OK.

SOE is Ok.


Bomb is boring.

Quote from: kango on September 20, 2024, 01:29:05 PM

And yeah SOI is a better album cover than Pop. If you google covers with a band member in each quarter, it's been done to death over 6 decades.

Art should not have to be explained. 99.9% of the people who see the SOI cover will not know it’s the drummers son. Most people just see shirtless older man hugging the waist of a shirtless younger man.

SOI is a horrible album cover.

I come at it both as a U2 fan and having had a graphic arts background. If I knew nothing about U2 and saw the SOI vinyl in a shop, I feel I'd still be intrigued and would recognise a strong image. Same with Achtung Baby, War, Boy and to some extent NLOTH.  By contrast The Joshua Tree, whilst a success with a cinematic quality that matches the music, wouldn't intrigue me at all if I was a newcomer.

Quote from: Larry's Lovebucket on September 20, 2024, 12:01:41 PM

Quote from: Melon on September 20, 2024, 06:36:52 AM

For me its either ATYCLB or SOE. Went with the first but could just as well have chosen SOE. Its not a brilliant cover or anything but its good in relation to the theme of the album and its not awkward (SOI), extremely boring (NLOTH) or completely random (HTDAAB).

What do you like about the ATYCLB cover? To me, it’s just 4 fellas standing around in an airport in France. Does it represent something more profound? Am I missing something?

The fact 4 fellas standing around an airport is better then the other dog shit covers they’ve had since Pop is actually quite amazing.

A little nugget of the ATYCLB cover: they edited the sign to “J33-3”

In reference to Jeremiah 33:3, one of Bono’s favorite verses from the Bible (“Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know”).

I’m no biblical expert, just thought I’d put this info in the thread.