CD Cover Analysis

Advantages and Disadvantages of a CD Cover

• There are many advantages we can pick out from having an original square-shaped CD cover:

-You are allowed to do pretty much whatever you want to do with it because it is a basic shape.

-No other record label/artist has advantage over another because all are square so no ones is unique to another

-It provides enough information such as name of artist and their album name.

• There are fewer disadvantages to it being square and these include: -No space to work with meaning less detail. After all it is only a small

square to work with and not too much can be included without it looking to heavy and detailed.

-Artist full body restriction; being a square it is difficult to fit in the whole body of the artist, they would have to be very small to fit in their whole body which can take away the look and importance of the singer/s.

Features of the CD Cover Front:On the front of a CD cover there are certain elements that you expect to find. The front is the

part of a CD that draws in the attention and gives the music some meaning. Names/Labels: When looking at these things to take into consideration are the colours, the

fonts and the size of the text to ensure its clearly visible to all. Image: The image needs to be different, striking, attractive and you must consider facial

expressions; are they looking at the camera, are they mysterious and what attitude does this portray.

Genre: For the image and titles to fit, the genre must be thought of. Is it representative of the artist?

Title of CD: From the title of it, can you get a sense of what to expect from the music they share.

Back:The back is of similar importance as this holds all the names of each track in turn on the CD. Songs: Having the song list on the back can help sell the CD and make it look attractive. They

represent the artist and genre of music. Although we must not forget that sometimes the song list is inside rather than on the back.

Other details: Not only is there a song list but on many CD backing you may find details of the producer, any institutions involved in it and maybe parental guidance dependant on the music genre.

This is a favourite cover of mine because it is so different and has alot of effects on it that I feel draws in attention when it is seen on the shelf. It is so effective due to the graphics used, the lighting and the sort of story behind the picture. Here, we see Tinie almost ‘hugging’/ holding onto the city as though it is his. This is effective because it may be seen as him feeling like he is doing really well for himself and getting the attention of the whole city. The genre of Tinie’s music is much RnB which this cover fits well, his statue like posture and expression along with the lighting, his costume and the feel of authority gives across this urban RnB style conventions. This cover follows the same typical style that is in all of his cover artwork. In most of his covers he is wearing some sort of glasses with a serious expression and some form of effective lighting is used. Without his name being on it, I could easily identify him with this sort of album front. The name of the album is ‘Disc-overy’ which is effective in itself because the CD is a ‘disc’ which in the name gives that impression.

Looking at this cover by Taylor Swift, I can easily link her title to her picture. The name ‘Fearless’ matches the way her hair is blowing strongly away from her face which leaves her looking strong and bold as its being whipped across. Her genre of music tends to be more country/folk and the simple colouring of her outfit and background along with the plain make up tones of her face and the use of swirled writing gives off the effect of her genre. From the cover we can tell she is a simple, fresh, open girl that is natural in beauty because of the simple tones shown and through the fact that she only reveals one half of her face in an almost attempt to show the audience she is keeping something or maybe portraying the average woman who keeps things in because her songs are greatly based on love. The lighting is very simple so that it is still effective and gives more emphasis on her face and hair along with her name and title of the album. Her hair is symbolic to the title and the simple plain structure of colouring and layout means all focus is on her, her name in the boldest colouring on the CD cover and the title of the album.

The Saturdays are a genre that is based on pop and this is easily portrayed by the cover of this album. The girls are the only colouring on the front which highlights their pop genre which is typical of bold colourings along with their personalities and something which makes each of them unique and stand out as the artists. The idea of the girls looking away from the camera and into the light is linked the title of the album which is ‘Chasing Lights’, as though they are looking towards the light. It is effective because they tell the story of the title and don’t need to address the audience for the cover to stand out. The use of the staggered positions of the girls highlights their individualities but also shows they are united together through use of similar postures and costume.This album Is different to their other album covers because in many of the other ones their focus is directly on the camera addressing theiraudience whereas here they are not. This may be because they are well known now that addressing the audience isn't a key feature, they have their setaudience already.

Far background dark to focus on artist, their name and album name

Bright light around Tinie Tempah making him stand out. Gives a unrealistic approach.

Use of CGI to give the special effects of the cover like the city he is ‘holding’ and the space style background. Both unrealistic but sells as it is very effect and eye catching

His name is in capitals with the same triangle effect as the background; showing conventions and sharp edge like city buildings

Motionless expression for serious RnB effect.

Dark glasses could be used to highlight brightness of the things around him and is a sign of a star image motif.

Iconography with his jewellery, glasses and jacket

‘Disc-overy’ helps link what the CD is inside the album and also the name of his album; It has been well thought of.

Audience engagement as we assume he is looking directly at us under glasses

We can feel part of it as though he is holding all of us in this ‘city’ like generated image.

Tinie being main feature and dominant sells album cover better because we are attracted to him.

Song titles are all in capitals and again have the same approach of sharp triangular points as the front cover, which could indicate a building type structure.

Same background effect and matching colour scheme just without Tinie who is replaced by song titles

Spine is simple with just the name of artist and album. Same colour scheme as throughout but ‘Disc-overy’ here is in pink.

Same bright effect around the important parts of the CD with the same CGI unrealistic pink glow effect and space like feel.

Small print to indicate institutions other details related to the product.

The back is simple but effective. No pictures just a running colour theme as all we need to know is the song titles. All main selling points are on the front cover

We get the same conventions of genre shown here through use of darker colouring, bold sharp fonts and the use of unrealistic special effects.