The Best Album Covers of 2007

As a follow-on to the worst album covers of the year list (see below), here’s my favourite album covers of 2007. It was going to be my top 10 favourite album covers of the year but as I can’t decide what not to include, it is now my favourite plus ten others (in no particular order) plus a mini-album and my favourite single cover of 2007.

My favourite album cover of the year is:

Bjork – Volta

It’s bold, bizarre and visually arresting yet so uniquely Bjork, all at the same time. The actual album itself was a bit of a letdown for me but I still think it’s one of the most striking album covers for a long time.

Panda Bear – Person Pitch

This was a close second to Bjork for me. Again, it’s bizarre and has that “What the Fuck?” element to it. It also perfectly encapsulates the oddness of the record.

Boxcutter – Glyphic

One thing I’ve noticed as I start to attach all these files is that quite a few of the sleeves that I’ve chosen are quite cartoony, which is unusual for me as it tends not to be what I go for. But in these cases, they’re ones that have really grabbed my attention. I haven’t heard this record but Boxcutter is from Northern Ireland and I have heard good things about the album. When I saw the LP in Road Records, I was tempted to buy it on the strength of the sleeve.

Sarabeth Tucek – Sarabeth Tucek

I like this one partly because it reminds me of various Sixties Psych albums that I love but also because it just grabbed me as soon as I saw it and made me interested in finding out about her. Which is quite an achievement for a record sleeve.

Amiina – Kurr

This is just a clever, original sleeve. So often, even in the case of some of the sleeves I have chosen, you can compare a sleeve or at least the concept of a sleeve to one that already exists. Knitting, however, is a rare sight on the front cover of a record. Heaven knows why…

Super Extra Bonus Party – Super Extra Bonus Party

Again, another one with a cartoony feel but this time with the addition of human bodies. This stood out a mile from the covers of all the other Irish records this year (and any other year) because it didn’t play it on the safe side. It was a brave cover but a cover that matched the playfulness of the music.

Blonde Redhead – 23

I know some people really hated this one but everytime I saw it, it made me laugh and it’s so simple yet unlike any album cover I’ve ever seen.

Animal Collective – Strawberry Jam

Just a great picture, really. I have no problem with literal translations of album titles. Sometimes that’s all that is neccessary.

Deerhunter – Cryptograms

Simple but brilliant. A clever use of Op-Art, unlike Britney’s dumb use of it (see the Worst Album Covers post below). I love the deer in the middle. Just great art, I think.

Bright Eyes – Cassadaga/Menomena – Friend And Foe

 

I’ve stuck these two together as putting little pictures of them up here doesn’t do them justice. you actually have to see them for yourself to see why they’re so good. The Bright Eyes one comes with a little Spectral Decoder device which when placed over the cover reveals other text and drawings. Click here to read the explanation of how it all works.

The Menomena cover has holes in the sleeve and the red parts seen on the sleeve above are actually from a lower layer. Justice really can’t be done with a thumbnail picture here.

A mini-album:

Efterklang – Under Giant Trees

This one also takes on added beauty in real life. Inside, there are four beautiful cards which can be arranged in a variety of ways to make one ever-changing picture. Watch this to see how it works:

Single cover of the year:

Dan Le Sac v Scroobius Pip – Thou Shalt Always Kill

This one is pure genius. No other way of describing it. It’s the equal of ‘Volta’ or ‘Person Pitch’ and deserved to be included here due to it’s pure brilliance.

I’m sure there are other covers I’ve forgotten or am not aware of. Let me know your thoughts…