This is the cover art for the band Alphabeat and their album 'This is Alphabeat'. Alphabeat are a Danish pop band, whose main genre is a mixture of dance and pop. Alphabeat are similar to my band (The Colours) as their genres contain both dance and pop.

This cover art is rather unusual, and very unique. As a viewer you are almost searching for the words in amongst the confusion of letters.

Alphabeat are said to take inspiration from British bands such as Prefab Sprout and Deacon Blue, whose main genres include pop and rock. To the left is an example of their cover art.

Alphabeat’s style is very much inspired by melodic music. Melodic music is often known for it’s very memorable beat, with a strong rhythm and tempo.

When comparing both Alphabeat’s and Prefab Sprouts cover art, you can see the similarity. Both covers contain letters only, ranging in different colours.

The similarities between Deacon Blue’s album cover and Alphabeat’salbum cover, are not particularly clear, but the varied range of fonts and casual colours such as blue, pink and orange, bare some resemblance to each other.

Above is the second image in ‘Viva La Vida’s’ cd case, which contains part of the song’s composition written in the red background.

The album tells a story of war between colour and sound, based on ‘Silencia’ a society identified as being destructive to the welfare of a free and open society. Identified by the famous author George Orwell.

A summary of the meaning behind the name is shown below, quoted by Wikipedia.

‘Mylo is seen as a ‘Silencer’ whose task is to hunt and track down ‘sparkers’. These spark’s can be referred to graffiti in real life. Mylo comes across Xylotoand discovers his sparkerabilities.’

'http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mylo_Xyloto’

The cover is quite simple, with a few pictures of graffiti included, with a very simple, font. Graffiti would refer to the sound and colour, Orwell tried to take away from Silencia, and also the sparks Mylo had to track down and hunt.

To the right is the cover art of Coldplay’s album ‘Viva La Vida’.

The ‘Viva La Vida’ cover art quite clearly represents the Revolution in France, with the French flag held by a women aiming to “lead the people forward over the bodies of the fallen”. The painting was created by EugèneDelacroix, commemorating the July Revolution of 1830.

This is the cover art for the band Coldplay’s album ‘Mylo Xyloto’. Coldplay are a British band consisting of lead singer Chris Martin and guitarist Jonny Buckland, whose main genres include alternative rock and brit-pop.

This is the cover art for the band Maroon 5’s album ‘Overexposed’. Maroon 5 are an American band, who’s genres include pop rock and alternative rock.

The cover art is very unusual and can be related to work by the painter Pablo Picasso (paintings on left). Picasso’s paintings can be often characterised by the disproportionate faces, very much like Maroon 5’s cover.

A quote from show-your-own-art-gallery, clearly outlines the reasoning behind the painting ‘Portrait of Dora Marr’.

“Dora Maar was a Yugoslavian photographer and Picasso's mistress during the war years in the twenties and thirties. Picasso has depicted her both from the side and from the front at the same time, but still manages to create a completely balanced and beautiful portrait. Notice how he has put her in a small box; it expresses a feeling of confinement. ”

Many people have commented Maroon 5’s on the cover art, Becky Bain a writer and performer, wrote that “it is what an episode of The Simpsons looks like if you’re on acid.”

‘Weeping Women’ by Pablo Picasso

‘Portrait of Dora Maar’ by Pablo Picasso

The artwork was created by the artist Young & Sick, who has designed various cover art for other bands such as ‘Foster The People’.

Overall the cover art is very unique and interesting, showing inspiration from the painter Pablo Picasso.

Strengths:

- The album cover art is very unique, and unusual- Draws attention from audience, viewer has to look for ‘This Is Alphabeat’ in the words

Weaknesses:

- Range of colours and letters, may get quite confusing- No focus on artist, therefore doesn’t tell much about the artists e.g. what they look like and wear

Strengths:

- Inspiration from Pablo Picasso, gives the cover a more interesting and appealing look- Conveys a ‘cartoony’ type feel, similar to the art of Picasso

Weaknesses:

- Very hectic and focusses too much on faces, which drowns out the titles (‘Maroon 5’ and ‘Overexposed’)

Strengths:

- Graffiti represents urban culture and destruction, relating to Orwell’s ‘Silencia’- Simplistic ‘bubbly’ text, draws attention to the graffiti, which is the covers art main focus

Weaknesses:

- Graffiti has evolved alongside the hip hop genre, and street dance ‘b-boying’ aka breakdancing. The graffiti may not relate to genres such as alternative rock and brit-pop, conveyed by Coldplay.

Strengths:

- The magazine advert is clearly linked to the album art- Outlines the band name and album single- Gives clear information about pre ordering stores and the date in which the album will be

released

Weaknesses:

- The name of the band and album, isn’t particularly clear, could be highlighted to make it more clear

- Like the album, the graffiti doesn’t not necessarily relate to Coldplay’s genre – alternative rock

Strengths:

- Very simplistic, easy on the eye design, giving clear information about tour dates- Use of social networking site (myspace) and website, shows connection with fans- Good use of colours on the tour date, which contrasts well, giving off a professional

finish alongside the art around it

Weaknesses:

- Could add quotes / reviews from music sites e.g. MTV etc. to entice viewers to buy the album

Coldplay – Mylo Xyloto Magazine Advert

The Hoosiers – The Trick To Life Magazine Advert