Evaluation Q1 - album cover

Here are rough notes that I will develop for our recording of the evaluation.


Typical features of album covers

• barcode
• album title
• track list (times?)
• artist name
• logo - recognisable typeface used for artist name
• institutional information
• web adress
• colour scheme
• strong graphic/photo of artist relative to artist/album
• band image evident
• booklet (inside)
• continuity between back and cover
• extra features - "bonus tracks" "special edition"
• dual case (cheaper than digipack)
  

Categorise by

• genre of music (rock, indie, pop)
• type of appeal (mainstream/niche)
• group/solo artist
• audience
• era
• abstract/simple
• male/female
• record label
• tone of band/artist (serious/funny)
• style of artwork (photo/graphic)
• debut/established artist/compilation/greatest hits (debut creates strong band image/brand - use creativity)
  

Functions
  
Front cover

• attracts customers to buy CD (genre target audience)
• shows band/key graphic
• album + artist evident
• identity (stand out/distinctive)
• sell institutional identity and band
• get people talking about it

Back cover

• track listings (inform audience of which tracks are featured)
• price 
• legal information
• website
• information about record label, songs, etc

Side

• reference (audience can pick it out of their collection by reading the spine)

We had to decide on a few important things before making our album cover:

• who the artist is
• what genre of music is on the album
• the name of the album
• the target audience of the album
• where the album will be sold (online/shops)

These are our answers

• The Vixens (Heidi, Alexa, Sammi, Sofia)
• glam/pop/club/electropoprock
• Glam Punch
• Both genders (primarily female) aged between 14 and 30
• Online and in shops
  

We realised that an album cover is a powerful advertising tool, and should sell the artist, complement the music, show a 'concept' for the album, and hopefully be an iconic image.


We have created an enticing idea for our album since it shows many vibrant bright colours, dynamic photos of the band, and bold yet uncluttered visuals. The cover is startling and grabs the audience with the colour contrast and interesting graphics (back cover, behind CD). Our album is not self-titled because we came up with "Glam Punch" that seemed the perfect name. It references one of our subgenres, glam, and "punch" can refer to either punching someone (grabbing their attention), or an alcoholic punch, which is something that would be associated with our band. This is continued behind the CD where there is a sketch of a martini glass, showing continuity between the different sides of the cover.

I have completed an album cover analysis chart which I will draw upon for the evaluation.