The Best Album Artwork Ever

The cover of an album is often referred to as a piece of art. And just like art, many of them have stood the test of time. Unfortunately, with the rise of online music downloads, album artwork isn’t as influential to the purchaser as it once was. Walking into a record store, the range of images that your brain had to process was overwhelming, and you were hit with cover after cover of controversial, artistic, symbolic and impressionist artwork that would invite you to listen to what was inside. You could be drawn to a band that you’ve never head of, simply because their album cover spoke to you. You could spend hours browsing a store, listening to samples on the provided headphones and checking out new music. Now all you have to do is type an artist into iTunes and click the download button.

Despite the closing down of record stores, musicians and singers are still releasing their work with a cover that represents the music and themselves as artists. Kanye West is forever portraying himself as Godly, and Marilyn Manson is still offending Christians with the burning of crucifixes. Some album covers should be forgotten, buried in a heap under Simon Cowell’s desk, but the best need to be celebrated for what they are – iconic examples of expression and art.

Here we take you through our favourite album art covers, both old and new! Some you’ll know, and some might be a little hidden jem, you’ve not yet discovered. 

Michael Jackson – Dangerous (1991)

Arcade Fire – Funeral (2004)

Grace Jones – Slave To The Rhythm (1985)

Radiohead – Ok Computer (1997)

David Bowie – Aladdin Sane (1973)

Dizzee Rascal – Boy In Da Corner (2003)

Nirvana – Nevermind (1991)

Foals – Holy Fire (2013)

Sex Pistols – Never Mind The Bollocks (1977)

Robert Babicz – The Owl And The Butterfly (2013)

Oasis – Definitely Maybe (1994)

Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavilion (2009)

Rudimental – Home (2013)

Pink Floyd – The Division Bell (1994)

Oasis – (What’s The Story) Morning Glory? (1995)

Dr Dre – The Chronic (1992)

Eminem – The Eminem Show (2002)

Mount Kimbie – Crooks & Lovers (2010)

Daft Punk – Random Access Memories (2013)

Thom Yorke – The Eraser (2006)

Disclosure – Settle (2013)

Gallows – Orchestra Of Wolves (2006)

Grandmaster Flash And The Furious Five – The Message (1982)

Benin City – Fires In The Park (2013)

Coldplay – Viva La Vida (2008)

Fatboy Slim – You’ve Come A Long Way, Baby (1998)

Lemon Jelly – Lemonjelly.ky (2000)

Prodigy – The Fat Of The Land (1997)