Digipak Analysis

By Josh Manley

Arctic Monkeys – Humbug

Front Cover

Here a label is included on top of the album cover in order to warn potential buyers about the content of the album. The font here is black very bold in order to allow it to stand out and be noticed and therefore affectively warning the audience.

The background image of the front cover is very effective in reinforcing the fact that Arctic Monkeys are an Indie/Alternative band. The overall mise-en- scene is the main aspect which creates this effect. The costumes of the four subjects can be considered to be retro Indie clothing, wearing denim jackets, hoodies and also having long haircuts. The colour scheme used once again reinforces the retro mood as it seems relatively dark and dingy due to the choice of location and lighting. Also the image seems faded which makes it look aged and more dated.

The bands name is placed here, near the centre of the frame. Bold black font is used in order to allow it to stand out and make it clear who the artists are. The contrast between the black text and white area in which it is placed also allows it to stand out clearly. The font is considerably messy and misaligned which contributes to the retro feel.

Here the names of the album is included through the use of a sticker instead of actually being included on the album colour itself. The size of the word ‘Humbug’ is much larger than the other text on the sticker which allows it to stand out and clearly illustrate the name of the album. Also the colour of the sticker is gold which has connotations of wealth and treasure.

Back Cover

Towards the bottom of the back cover the track listing is included. The text is black and also is the same font as the album title which provides a sense of consistency across the album. Also these stand out due to the use of the light background.

The typography of the band name is very effective as it always allows it to stand out. There Is a sense of coherence when talking about the rest of the text included on the album cover. This allows the band’s name to stand out very effectively due to the font, size and colour of the text. The font is very erraticand uneven which once again portrays their genre and stylevery effectively. Also the size of the text is much larger than the rest of the font which makes it the focal point of the back cover. The colour of the text isn’t bright and vibrant, instead it is a dark shade of red, once again contributing to the genre.

This album cover conforms to the conventional information included on the back cover of a digipak. Here the record company’s logo and the band website as well as where the album was manufactured is included.

On the side of the digipaksimple black text is used to show the name of the band and album title.

This album cover is slightly different from most as it doesn’t contain an image on the back cover. However I feel that this is effective as it allows the text to be the focal point of the cover.

CV

This CD has been designed to seem as if the letters ‘A’ and ‘M’ are burnt across the surface of pie. The two letters are the initials of the band. This contributes to the dark colour scheme of the album colour, the fact that the initials are burnt implies a sense of rebellion which is often associated with indie/alternative bands. It is relatively unconventional due to the fact that the band’s full name isn’t included on the CD.

Oasis – Time Flies

Front CoverIn contrast with the Arctic Monkeys digipak, the Band’s name and logo is included in the top left corner of the front cover alike a lot of their album cover. Instead the title of the album is included in the centre of the cover. The band logo is part of the brand identity as they use this logo on most, if not all of their album covers. Due to this, connections can be made with the audience as they will instantly recognize the logo, also connections can be made between their other works. Both of these texts are black and bold which allow them to stand out from the

The background image of the front cover is a photo of a crowd which is assumed to be at one of their concerts. It is taken from the band’s perspective which provides a more personal tone to the album. This photo depicts the extensive size of Oasis’ audience, portraying the great interest they have. This can relate to the title of the album in relation to the success of the band. It could suggest how quickly in which they have progressed from being a little band to a worldwide band.

light background of a sky. The title of the album is in all capitals which also allows it to stand out further. The fact that the text is placed in the sky relates to the title being ‘Time Flies’.

The majority of the front cover is considerable light and vibrant and natural. It Is also slightly unsaturated which implies a retro theme which is often associated with indie/alternative bands. This also implies the time period in which is was taken,Perhaps on 35m film

Back Cover

The side panel includes Basic information such as the album title, band logo and record label logo

In comparison to the album front cover, the back cover consists of a very different.Unlike the front cover where the chaotic experience of a concert is shown, the back Cover illustrates the aftermath of a concert where litter covers the whole ground. Also This image is much darker and dingy than the front cover and not as aesthetically Pleasing.

Similarly to most album covers,It contains the conventional Information that is Stereotypically found on the back cover of the album. Here a barcode, copyright notice, the band’s website details and also the record label’s name and logo. Also there are no photographs of the band on this album cover which is relatively different from most album covers. Instead they present what the band experience and causes, which could also suggest the success and size of the band.

The track listings is included Conventionally on the back cover where they are placed rather chaotically. This can perhaps relate to the background image being very reckless and polluted. The text is white as well as being all in capitals which allows it to stand out from the dark background very well. Also the different tracks named can vary in size which can allow for the larger sized fonts to be seen easier.

CD

These Cd’s have the band’s name and also the album title on them in the same fonts. This gains a connection with the front cover and provides consistency throughout. These CD’s also include the record label’s name and logo as well as the copyright details which are encrypted around the circumference of the CD. The CD is a pastel pink which will grab audience’s attention. Furthermore, it also allows the font to stand out very effectively as it contrasts with the black bold text.

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The Script - Science on Faith

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Front CoverOn the front cover the band's logo is included in the centre towards the top of the frame. The font is bold black and is bigger than the album title which allows it to stand out. The light background enhances this and makes the logo and title where visible.

There is a central foreground image of two hands holding in a consdierably strong fashion. It is clear that one of the hands belong to man and the other belongs to a women. This can resmeble the band's hybrid genre, implying the coming together of pop and rock. This hand gesture also implies a sense of unity and strength which could be relatable to the title of the album. The fact that this image is place in the centre of the composition causes it to be focal point of the cover which is first seen by the audience.

The colour scheme of the front cover is used throughout the whole ablum digipak. The colours of brown and yellow as well as the contrast work very effectively in producing a worn/vintage effect. This is furthered through the successful use of the backgrond image and overall filter which produces several lines and specks to imply ageing. There is also a slight vinette which makes the edges of the cover much darker. The area which is not in the vinette is the surrounding spaces of the band logo and album title. This allows for the text to stand out further.

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Back Cover

A sense of continuity is gained through the fact

In each corner of the back cover, conventional information is placed. This includes the band website, record label logo, barcode and also the copyright notice. This still adds to the colour scheme of the digipak due to the fact that it is black and in the same font as the rest of the texts.

that once again the main central image is of two different hands together. However this time the hands are placed together touching palms. This gesture contains connotations of praying which is very relavent to the title of the album. The continuity is also due to the same colour scheme and background being used which further the vintage, worn look. This contrast provides a gritty feel which acompanies the brown colour tone; implying connotations of religion, once again realting to the album title.

In the top right hand corner of the back cover a track listing is inluded. Here they are order numerically from 1-10 which once again confroms to the conventions of the back cover of digipaks. Once again the same black font is used which is slightly bigger than the other text included on the back cover which allows the track listing to stand out more.

On the spine of the digipak the band name and title of the album is include. It remains consistent as the same font is use however the band name is in bold which allows it to be more visible

05/01/23

CDThe disk of the digipak is also very intriguing as it is different to the rest of the digipak. Instead of hands being used as the main image a very parculiar symbol is used. It looks as if it is glowing through its orange colour which stands out from the dark background. This could perhaps have connotations of a religious symbol, once again relating to the title of the album. This CD is quite unique and different to the other CDs in which I have analysed as it also includes the track listing around the circumference of the disk. It is ordered numerically as well as being in orange text and in the same font as the rest of the digipak, showing consistency.