MUSIC….The #1 inspirational device in life. Music is everywhere and there aren’t many people out there that can disagree with me. So what I have for you is 101 Best Designed Album Covers. I have searched high and low for many different types of covers. There are many that are drawn out, close up photos, grungy, simple and clean or just iconic. I have a hard time figuring out which one stands out for me but a few that I like are; Rise Against, Finger Eleven, Cartel, Boys Like Girls. There are just way too many out there. Please feel free to posts any album covers that you think should be on the list at the new inspiredology flickr group.
The album covers are listed in no specific order.
![Gnarls-Barkley---St.Elsewhere-[Front]-[www.FreeCovers.net]](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2350/2258123273_08753065e1_o.jpg)
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cool collection,
and a source for album artworks as well
i think the most of them aren’t designed well…
Ah, this is exactly why, years from now, people will still be making and buying vinyl. Because CDs and MP3s are great, but they don’t let you really own and enjoy the fullsized album artwork like records do.I wonder, if popular music had originally begun to be distributed as tapes, CDs, or digitally, would the emphasis on album artwork have ever come to be?
Nice post!
Great comment…I totally agree…album artwork is a jem in itself…it just adds so much more to the music package.
looks like a collection from the local candy-pop radio station. gym class heroes? kanye west? every linkin park? john mayer? THE OC?! still a great collection of artwork
How is it possible to exclude Roger Dean’s work from this list?
I think there’s too much linkin park… nice collection anyways
One jazz cover, one hip hop cover… this collection should be called “99 album covers: mostly pop rock”
Blind Faith
Houses of the Holy
You are missing Sticky Fingers of the Rolling Stones conceived and photographed by Andy Warhol and designed by Craig Braun, once called the greatest cover of all times. The original cover came with a real zipper!
http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000000W5N.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg
This looks like a list populated by some 15 year olds favorite picks. Most, if not all of the albums depicted here are of overly known band. I mean, some of the lesser know guys have simply amazing artwork. Like “Cheer Up!” by Reel Big Fish or “Whipped Cream and Other Naughty Delights” from Herb Alperts Tijuana Brass
those are pretty cool, but in my opinion this one’s the best. it’s soo simple, but yet awesome.
http://images.victoryrecords.com/albums/VR351.jpg
no Oingo boingo? opps
Van Halen 1984!!!
3 OC Mix CD’s? You’re kidding me. They aren’t even good covers.
The Toby Keith one is another so-so pick. Too literal I think.
MTV Unplugged, not very designed. Just a picture of a guitar…
Seems to be too contemporary to me. Needs some old Record Album Covers. If you had left off the Dark Side of the Moon cover, there would have been hell to pay.
Cheer Up is seconded.
I completely agree with Hissho, these may be some really good, really well known albums, but I was expecting actual good, innovative design. This is not that. At all.
and thank you for the Reel Big Fish/Herb Alpert suggestions. Two of my favorite bands.
the elements and principles of art and design are completely absent in about 70% of this list.
I stumbled upon this site, and i can’t resist commenting on this list. I disagree with the title here, the author may like these album covers, but the variety is widely lacking, and shows a fundamental lack of research, and lack of scope in musical taste. Moreover, several of the designs are incredibly similar or at the least, very formulaic. I mean come on, there has to be some mention of andy warhol’s work, especially the velvet revolver album which had a peel off banana; or maybe something by menomena, whose album art has including fold-up monsters; or Iron and Wine Shepherd’s dog; or anything by of montreal! I don’t claim to have a definitive knowledge of album art, and it definitely is subjective, but at least do your research before slapping a title like that on there.
This list needs more jazz covers. Minimalistic and really, really stylish nonetheless.
not a single one of the bands you like has a good album cover.
not cool at all. i would like to hear why these are “best designed.” i agree with some, but a lot of em are just probably bands that you like. cmon. “Linkin Park Live”?!?!? WTF!!! my toilet bowl after a night of burritos looks better than that!
Just found a great site, that I wish I found before creating this post, this is probably the biggest database of cd covers out there.
http://sleevage.com/
To the comments, yes some of these albums you might not like because of the music (the music is NOT the point of this posts), there is so much music out there, everyone is only exposed to so much so, when I compiled this list, in my opinion these are some of the best designed album covers that I have found, I listen to different music then these album covers. As I said I would love to have more posted from other album cover lovers, so I appreciate all the comments.
Wow.
What about Joy Division Closer and Unknown Pleasures the two best ever?
I would add to this collection Qntal – “Silver Swan” album(and some of other albums of this band). Awesome design.
sure is mainstream in here
The design collection is really inspiring, thanks a lot…
why no gorillaz or muse?
have you seen the album art for origins of symmetry?
what the hell. Half of these are crappy ass bands. Not to mention the covers suck. you have no clue what iconic album art is. you don’t even have the most iconic album cover in your list. Joy divisions, unknown pleasures. Look it up and get a clue.
This is a pretty crappy list of the best album artworks. Most of these bands are so lame, and the O.C.? Come on dude. I agree with putting some Joy Division, New Order and Depeche Mode has always had some forward thinking album covers. Looks like you just put together your favorite bands(which are pretty shitty, Nickelback, Serious?) and then you just added some significant album covers from Pink Floyd and other staple bands. Look a little harder man!
what about the offspring – americana too?
you’ve chosen the most commercial albums instead
Art is purely based on personal opinion.
most of this shit sucks-music and covers combined
best album designs? are you kidding? most of these are crappy and seem like they were just thrown together from a limited collection.
The OC Mix 2? LOL
i think this thing you have going here is awesome. pretty cool to have all those album covers tbh.
keep it up!
there are more to come!
I think a huge majority of these are god awful design wise and just a result of what’s popular with the general public commercially. Not at all design savvy. Quite the turnoff.
And where is the Beatles – Revolver?
Well, its nice as a resource/collection for inspiration, cause there are SOME good ones here, but there is really a lot of **** too (“the very best of MTV unplugged”?? WTF? It looks like a stock picture straight out of iStockphoto or Dreamstime, with 5 minutes spent to slop on some text – the “designer” should have been given ten lashes in public for doing something like that), and some left out that it is incredible to forget.
Wow. A few decent albums and their covers amongst a bunch of barely-ever-heard-of-quickly-forgotten hipster doofus bands-of-the-month.
Are you serious?
Great covers:
Korn-almost any album
Metallica -Master of puppets,DeathMagnetic
Deftones -Deftones
Well, the title should be, “My 101 favorite album covers” because obviously, these are bands you like and not exactly what the title suggests.
poor collection of design. best design? never. about as well thought out as the ‘best movie posters’ collection where the indiana jones and the crystal skull is another example of ‘best’. this website is about collecting bits and pieces with webmasters authority to imply knowledge of design.
I had to ask myself whether some of these were posted as satire. Also, as stated before: a huge and evident lack of diversity within the choices, most of which were popular bands. There’s a plethora of Jazz, Funk and Soul covers that are magnificent pieces of artwork. (Slave, for instance, have produced some stunning covers, which, even alone, have forced me to buy their albums)
Utter shite.
ultra cool. thanks for the posting. Peace and Respect frm India
Seems like you really liked these bands, but didn’t really consider anything that you weren’t a fan of. I mean, I like most of these too. It’s easy to see you’re into the emo/screamo scene stuff, especially with the Christian touch, and so am I. When I saw that The Used were listed twice and both toward the top, I realized this was just your playlist and had nothing to do with good design.
Some great covers there, but I cant believe this is on here.
http://www.oxygenius.info/data/media/1/Oxygene.jpg
That – of course – should have read “I cant believe this isn’t on here
More than half of these are just absolute trash design.
THis isn’t a list of the best music ever. its the best artwork ever. Metallica st.anger is epic! i think these are good covers, but the music isnt particularly good. too much linkin park though. still good.
Oh wow… this “Chad” dude as no taste in art and music, and imagination, every cover art is is from the mainstream music culture. LAME!
I think that dance gavin dance should be on there if you don’t know them look em up
Hey, this is so much better than Rolling Stone’s list of 100 greatest covers. Yours is SO much better!!!
Congrats
Great collection!
While we are at it, here’s my visual interpretation on some singles: http://www.lidorwyssocky.com/recover.html
Lidor
Never forget this.
Very nice
Wow, not a single Jazz CD.. too bad this is mostly mainstream artist.. (including some of the best album covers of all time)… but really… like all Linkin Park albums made it to your ’99 “BEST” ‘ Album covers..?
You need to go back to design school.
Ha! and he says… “I have searched high and low for many different types of covers” Ha ha ha..
Awesome…. excellent work. Thanks for sharing this nice collection.
Steaming pile of dung…
Great collection!.Think you could add,the the infected,queen news of the world and never mind the bollocks.
I always thought the cover of Paulina Rubio’s “Pau-Latina” was creatively psychedelic.
This list sucks. It’s just a mix of the garbage you listen to, and then it looks like you looked up “great albums covers” on google, and threw a couple of those that your thought were neat in here. To quote someone else’s comment … “this was just your playlist and had nothing to do with good design.”
Some album cover is neverdie.
Until I scrolled through this list, I never realized how widespread the influence of Ralph Steadman has been on album art. But, I am not surprised.
What about “Born to Run” by Bruce Springsteen
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http://inspiredology.com/99-best-designed-album-covers/
99 Best Designed Album Covers: http://inspiredology.com/99-best-designed-album-covers/
no mothers of invention?
90% of this list has crappy design, artistic and musical esthetics. Nickleback and Linkin Park, really?
What about the staples like War and Unknown pleasures. And perhaps a list that dowsnt focus on mainstream emo and jock rock.
Wow. I comment list full of haters. I love the way the majority flexed their timid little fingers to tell you how much they don’t like your choices (in both music and art). They put down your list, but I see so few willing to actually post their elevated tastes. And they comment with such class…
Your critics are lame, Chad.
Older post but worth a revisit – 99 Best Designed Album Covers – http://inspiredology.com/99-best-designed-album-covers/
This looks like a random playlist to me. There are some very pretty designs amongst them, but that’s to be expected when there’s a hundred of ‘em. I worked at a private CD-store in Holland for almost 5 years. They used to sell literally everything. From Japanese to US and Chinese import. I’ve seen many, many better ones than the ones you’ve selected. It really seems like laziness to me putting this list together. I assume it isn’t a lack of taste.
Nice one – bit subjective maybe and a few designs that would be an acquired taste, but certainly ticked all the major boxes for me. I missed JJ Cale’s ’5′ and Weather Report’s ‘Heavy Weather’. Oh, and Hot Rats and Solid Air and Late for the Sky. OK I’ll stop.
Loved the one-x cover
i loved almost all of them
99 Best Designed Album Covers / http://inspiredology.com/99-best-designed-album-covers/
i unnno they all have a best design, but Nickel Back Silverside up is the best (Y)
FUCK THEM WHITE BITCHES :L
I’m a massive Linkin Park fan and even I think what you’ve done is overkill. To be honest Meteora is the only particularly good artwork.
You good sir, have forever tarnished the, formerly, sterling reputation of those poor, now dejected, souls who have dedicated their life to the art of giving face to a collection of music, or in terms you might understand, album artists.
I cannot express deeply enough how wrong you are.
I don’t want to be an internet dick,
psyche,
I totally do, you are a tool, give up listening to music, I’m sure just by it reaching your ears, is in some way irreparably damaged.
p.s. you are a tool
Anyways.
Please explain to me the thought process, deluded as it may have been, that lead you to this heinous conclusion that this sorry mess of album art abortions are in any way even near the title of being best of anything, ever, ever, ever.
I noticed at one point that you had not two, not three, no, not even four, but five. FIVE Linkin Park albums in a row.
The fuuuuuck.
BITCHES BE CRAZY.
I can’t imagine what you were thinking.
One of them was a live album, that simply had a picture of a hand on it.
Are you high all the time or just when you made this list?
For now I will simply assume you are a dysfunctional alcoholic that, only by virtue of your admirable level of incoherence, does not know what he is saying or listening to.
Because only under those circumstances, following common logic, can I come to the conclusion that you would find these albums to be the 99 best designed, or at all aesthetically pleasing album covers.
You sir make a mockery of what it is to discuss music in a public forum, and may I just close by saying.
I would, literally, rather eat paint, and subsequently sit on ten light bulbs, in succession, than read this list again.
You have, without question made all those who have happened to stumble upon this unholy miscarriage of evaluating album covers, so, so much stupider.
You should issue a public apology immediately, and cease and desist from running this website, as well as using the internet in general, if you keep this up, you just might ruin the whole thing.
Good day
Psyche, fuck you
http://www.amiright.com/album-cover-themes/fine-art/
a much better list.
Whats so great about Linkin Park`s album art????
Judging by your choise of cd covers, you are christian. What a bad list. I love the beatles but #1 Album cover isn’t special at all, and Linkin Park – Minutes to midnight? C’mon…
no puedo ponerla en DailyBooth.com
Really nice List. Some of the Covers are not as good as some, wich are missing here, but pretty cool think. I send a trackback as well!
Poor Selection
This has some good ones on the list. No Iron Maiden is a serious omision though- Theirs own all over the metal covers on this list.
Metallica and Linkin Park covers aren’t in the same league as Iron Maiden’s sorry. Every heavy metal album cover designed since Maiden’s first wants to be as powerful. They aren’t……
dude, this is really weak. i know everyone else has already said it, but you need to know how many people think this list is a joke…
Great collection. Thank’s for that inspiration of modern culture masterpieces.
no iron maiden? most of the ones here aren’t that great. sure art may look cool, but most have very little meaning, or significance and none are eye catching. lame list
good. but where is rolling stones ‘sticky fingers’, frank zappa ‘ship arrives too late to save the drowning witch’, john lennon ‘rock n roll’, santana ‘moon flower’, floyd ‘momentary lapse of reason’
what about the beatles white album, or revolver? and wtf, oc? really?
A lot of good stuff, however there’s definitely a bias toward newer stuff…a lot of good 60′s-70′s covers aren’t here…and that’s arguably the high point of album cover design (at least they were “full sized”). An I must agree with those who say there’s some overkill on the number of linkin park covers. I like they Lauryn Hill cover, but does it not owe something to Alice Cooper’s School’s Out?
Пост, который не подвластен времени…
Chad, jem is short for jemima, I think you meant gem but I digress. My main point in posting here, and I don’t post anywhere, is that you’re an idiot. I cannot believe you haven’t taken this POS list down yet. Do you realize if you type “best album covers” into google this site comes up first? Get real, remove the best of covers, the BS OC “albums” (do you really think 3 albums inspired by making more money off the OC make the top 99 best designed album covers ever, really?), the totally uninspired nickelback and linkin park covers and all the rest of the non-scottish crap or else delete this abomination completely. You’re making yourself look bad. Not just bad, totally incompetent. I’ll refrain from using the r word. Peace
What about Chicago’s covers? they wer always great
Don’t listen to ‘em! These are great picks. However, since everyone has an opinion, especially me, I would include Pink Floyd’s “Animals” cover, as well.
You sure do like Linkin Park, huh?
this list seems like it was put together by a 14 year old
Well, some of them are pretty good, but what about Michael Jackson’s Dangerous and Invincible album covers?! Don’ t miss them out! Especially Dangerous….it is amazing!!!
What about THE TUBES (first album) lifesize scale of hand ripping album jacket? Rolling Stones Beggars’ Banquet (3D photo of band)? Uriah Heep (Look At Yourself) with mirror? There are so many classic album covers from the 70′s that this compilaiton missed. There is a coffee table sized book of best album jacket art. Not complaining….it’s a free country. We are all entitled to our own opinions. Thanx!
Nice, classic O.C designs.
What about Michael Jackson’s Dangerous? That is one of the most amazing album covers EVER. You Should definitely include it.- Also Blood on the Dancefloor is a great one.
very good
Wow, the author of this list is a total faggot. Every single one of these is some mainstream bullshit. All you did was take various album covers from the most mainstream pop/rock bands out there. Name the list correctly if you are going to name it. Because basically what you said is that there is not a single good album cover from any artist outside the pop/rock genre. Way to go dickhead.
i dont like the fact that boring album covers like st anger and back in black apared in this
i like the simple ones the carton ones are kinda annoying to me, lol.
I think that Steal This Album and Best of Atreyu should be there.
hahaha
this is such a muddled list.
and there are so many weak mediocre designs in here
Chad: You’re a brave young man, opening yourself up to endless criticism from people who disagree with your concept of what constitutes “great album cover art.” The good news is that you, a young designer, considers this a valuable part of your ongoing design education. Keep up the good work, and start working on a newer, revised list. But first, spend an hour or two or three combing through the vinyl at your local second-hand store. You shall then begin to appreciate the suggestions made by some of the older visiters to your site. And believe you me, you will be glad you made the field trip. Prepare yourself for some major “Oh, wow!” action. Best wishes, Simon.
I think that Steal This Album and Best of Atreyu should be there.
Congratulations on finding your way here.
i cant believe that you havent got Genesis – Nursery Cryme!
http://www.landofgenesis.fr/genesis/albums/03nursery.jpg
totally bunk. Not a single Roger Dean work…
I think this is based on your taste in music rather than design. You have no taste in music.
The only album that caught interest to my eye was the “Dookie” album by Green Day
James says, “I think this is based on your taste in music rather than design. You have no taste in music.”
ROFL!!! Ok I didn’t really roll on the floor but I did laugh! Thanks James. I am with Eric V and anyone else that I missed on the Maiden thing. Have you just never seen an Iron Maiden album cover or are you familiar with them and just think they are sheet?
You have awful music taste
I can’t believe Norma Jean’s “Meridional” isn’t on here, that’s a freakin awsome looking cover!!
Some obvious classics are included, but overall I have to state the sad fact that most of the included albums are weak over-produced commercial potato mash. Too much emo.
Very naive and limited list of modern US-rock covers. Has it even been ‘selected’ – looks like a random selection. Here’s my own list! http://akickupthearts.wordpress.com/2010/08/13/ten-great-artists-album-covers/
Outstanding, some have great inspirations, some gave me some great ideas for clients works
thanks, a page to bookmark
I think that “Homesick” by A Day to Remember has the coolest artwork that I have seen in a long time.
GN’Rs Appetite For Destruction should in the list in my opinion
Why isn’t the Beatle’s White Album on the list. That has a shitty album cover.
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