Second Album Cover Analysis

I chose to analyse this album cover because it links with the type of album digipak that i intend to create. This album cover is the 2nd album from the band 'You me at six' which are a rock/indie genre based band and therefore this album cover is perfect for presenting the music genre of rock.


The variety of bright colours link with the genre of the music as the 'brightness' can relate to how the music stands out, and how loud it is. Also by having so much colours on the album cover reflects how rock music has so much going on within the music itself. Also this links with all rock genre music videos, no matter what type of rock it is, there is always a lot happening within the video. Furthermore the variety of colours can link with the fact that rock itself has a divers range of genres and many bands explore with each genre.


Points about the album:

• The album is surreal, linking with the genre of rock music, which can be portrayed as anything you make it.
• The plain white background allows the colours to stand out which both attracts more attention from the audience, allowing the band to stand out more.
• Compared to the original album cover this newer album shows how the band themselves have matured due to the nature and creativity of the colours.
• Unlike the older album this circle goes outwards, showing how the band and their music are now more 'out there' due to how well they are now known.
• The use of so many colours shows that this alum isn't stereotyped and therefore can apply to any person. This being any gender and anyone who may be attracted to the creative side of rock music, which can be seen on the album.
• This subverts many albums, both rock and other genres, by the way that the house style is applied. Usually an album sticks with the same house style, keeping to a limited use of colours. However this album use a wide range of colours therefore subverting the conventions of a typical rock album. However this can link with the idea of what rock is about, being unique and always going against what is thought to be 'normal'.
• The album title 'take off your colours' is in a very small font which shows that the band know that they no longer have to advertise what the album is due to the fact that is a re-release. Instead they rely more on the use of imagery as a way to show that they have changed.
• The colour scheme can also reflect that the band are young as the colours are vibrant, stand out and different. These are ways that young people are sometimes portrayed to be.

Above is the original album cover for 'Take off your colours' which is when the band wasn't that well know. This can be seen through the contrasting colours as it makes it hard for the album to stand out much, also the dull brown and black have the same effect. Furthermore it shows how the band them self were more 'in the shadow' at the time of the album release, not well known.

Also the album shows lack of experience due to how simple it looks, especially when compared to the remake.

However this album cover portrays rock music in the same way as the newer album cover:

• The diverse colours represent what happens within music videos, the music of rock itself and the many sub genres of rock.
• The album goes into 'darkness', getting darker and less clearer as the circle goes inwards, which again shows how the band are not well known, being in the shadows.
• Furthermore the 'curled' font reflects the way the music on the album flows, being fluent. Also it shows the creativity behind the music of the genre rock.
• This album uses lower cased letters, which can link with the idea that the band is new, young and inexperienced. While the newer album is all in capitals, showing that this band is more experienced than they used to. Also showing that they are more mature and thus sand out more than they once did, all messages that they convey to their audience.

Overall both album covers portray the same responses about rock music in very similar ways. However the reason why I chose to use both album covers is to show that album covers can also tell a story about the band themselves and not just a story about the music and its genre. Also the use of its colour scheme shows how creative and colourful rock music really is. Colourful in the sense of how people feel and relate to the music and also the way it is portrayed.