Best Album Cover

great topic-- id also extend it out to sleeve design as well- as some covers are intimately connected to quality design the whole way thru.

eg, this
[IMG]http://toolshed.down.net/pix/lat/lateralus.jpg[/IMG]

also.
[IMG]http://www.hipsurgerymusic.com/MrBungle/disco-volante.jpg[/IMG]

now, some class by Peter Saville.
[IMG]http://kr.asiamusic.net/imgdata/news/weiv/20001018105055-suede.gif[/IMG]
[IMG]http://www.swo.de/images/RRC/suede2.jpg[/IMG]

some nice print processes- with the metallics.
[IMG]http://www.newsreview.com/issues/sacto/2001-12-20/mixmusic2-1.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://www.plume-noire.com/gif&co/fantomas.gif[/IMG]

and that is all, for now.

I am highly biased, of course, but i think the Residents have some of the most awesome fucking cover art ever:

(their first album, circa 1972)
[IMG]http://www.residents.com/images/albums/meettherz.jpg[/IMG]

("god in three persons" - a concept album about a set of male/female siamese twins with the power to heal)
[IMG]http://www.residents.com/oldimages/g3p/g3p.gif[/IMG]

("the third reich and roll" - each side is a roughly 15 minute medly of the most twisted interpretations of classic bubblegum pop you'll ever hear)
[IMG]http://www.residents.com/images/albums/3rnr.jpg[/IMG]

("demons dance alone" - written after september 11th)
[IMG]http://www.residents.com/images/albums/demons.jpg[/IMG]

on non-residential goodies, I am rather fond of the cover of Suede's "Coming Up", so I second Wes' opinion, and I swear I am not trying to kiss up to him by saying that Pulp's "This is Hardcore" is just brilliant.

[IMG]http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000006DI9.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg[/IMG]

Rasputina's "Lost and Found" is rather lovely...
[IMG]http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00007JGP7.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg[/IMG]

maybe it's just me, but i've always thought that the cover for depeche mode's "violator" was pretty classic:
[IMG]http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000002LK1.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg[/IMG]

I could go on a looooot more but i figure this is enough for now

NIN, the downward spiral. the whole sleeve and booklet design, with the paintings. i know. i'm predictable.

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by insomnomaniac [/i]
[B]NIN, the downward spiral. the whole sleeve and booklet design, with the paintings. i know. i'm predictable. [/B][/QUOTE]

Predictable, but right.

uh...thanks...i think...

[img]http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drf700/f761/f76186tjfdt.jpg[/img]

Residents fuckking rockk.

Buster&Glen cover is cooler.

[IMG]http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00000286Z.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg[/IMG]

I've always liked Suicidal Tendencies as a band, but this cover, from "The Art of Rebellion", always stuck out as being of consequence to me...

Reminds me of the scene from Batman with Jack in the art museum and such.

Too fat, fat you must cut lean.
You got to take the elevator to the mezzanine,
Chump, change, and it's on, super bon bon
Super bon bon, Super bon bon.

apologies in advance:

how do you post an image?

[*img]urlgoeshere[*/img]

Minus the *s.

And make sure there aren't any _s in the url, or it'll fux itself up. =\

ida-losing true

[IMG]http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00000G15H.01._PE_SCMZZZZZZZ_.jpg[/IMG]

tom waits-blue valentine

[IMG]http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000002GWJ.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg[/IMG]

belle and sebastian-fold your hands child you walk like a peasant

[IMG]http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00004T8ZB.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg[/IMG]

not "the best of all time"...just some that i like.

thanks disx for learnin' me.

Thanks in no small part to a cover with not only a bottle of booze on it, but to another cover in this thread that has who it has looking reflective and downtrodden just above, this thread gets my Hustler's Beaver Hunt's Highest Rating... FULLY ERECT... damn straight...

[IMG]http://www.front.net/gtausch/mike4.jpg[/IMG]

tis true. tis very true indeed.

small change got rained on with a 38

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Tuffy the Dump Truck [/i]
[B]But Odds, not Duck Stab? [/B][/QUOTE]

i know i'm kind of in a minority, but DS/B&G's cover never really did that much for me.

strange, since it's one of my favorites, music-wise....

I always thought a lot of the Brit Rock/Pop albums were good. Especially Blur's album for "Parklife."

[img]http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000002TQB.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg[/img]

Oooh, and how can I forget Bjork's "Post."

[img]http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000002HH2.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg[/img]

bjork is so amazing. *drool, foaming drool clots in my lap*

[img]http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000001Y5Z.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg[/img]
[img]http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000065DJ4.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg[/img]
[img]http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000030009.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg[/img]
[img]http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000028TV7.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg[/img]
[img]http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0000067X1.01.LZZZZZZZ.gif[/img]