Album Cover Inspiration!

In this post I have compiled some of my favorite album covers that span across all spectrums of music. Some of these albums are some of my favorites, but others were chosen specifically for its unique cover art that has always caught my attention. Our first one is one that till this day I do not quite understand, which is The Mars Volta - De-Loused in the Comatorium.

Que?

I've listened to this album many times all the way through, as it tells a story about a deceased friend of the band. However, the album cover and the lyrics of the album mystify me as they are layered with metaphors and allusions to the life of said friend. Next is Paul Wall & Chamillionaire - Get Ya Mind Correct a rap album from Houston based rap duo.

Nice try Nike, I see your hidden advertisement.

 The image perspective of this album cover always caught my attention and the use of only two colors, red and white. Next is Los Tigres Del Norte - Corridos Prohibidos, translated means prohibited corridos which are folk tales that are told through song. The reason for the prison line up album cover is because of the content of corridos that speaks of drug dealers and narco trafficking.

Prohibited....in Mexico.

 In 1996, Rage Against the Machine - Evil Empire was released and I was only 10, and would not listen to this album for another 5 years and many more years until I actually understood it. Of all Rage Against the Machine albums this cover has always been my favorite. The title "Evil Empire" that refers to Ronald Regan's speech where he refers to the USSR as the "Evil Empire".

Featuring lyrics that provoke.

 Ah yes, No Doubt - Tragic Kingdom an album cover that has forever reminded me of a trip that I took during the mid-nighties to Los Angeles. An amazing album on its own, the cover always perplexed me because you have the juxtaposition of Gwen Stefani's beauty with rotting fruit in a satire towards a Mid-20th century advertisement.

Tasty.

After years of hearing my brother listen to Metallica albums, I finally gave Master of Puppets a gander while I was high school and I was hooked. It was hard to pick between many of their album covers, but it was this one that resonated me. The symbolism of the grave site together with the puppeteer, alludes to a grim metaphor between military and the government that controls it.

MASTER.

Again harking back to the 90's, Fugees - The Score makes me question the genre of the album. Just showing three faces, all with different expressions interested me to give it a listen after hearing Killing Me Softly, which until this day reminds me of my oldest sister.

Still waiting for The Score 2.

Bone bone bone bone.. Bone.. Bone.. Bone.. Bone.. Bone. Just as Mars Volta I still do not get this post apocalyptic backdrop of this album art. However, similar to Mars Volta and No Doubt Bone Thugs-n-Harmony - E.1999 Eternal just captured my attention compared to other rap/hip-hop albums that were being released speaking directly to the cover art. 

I miss my uncle Charles y'all...