#26

Meghan Wolf

Theory Of Gravity
Sky Council Records

Simple, straight-forward, clean, and cleverly encompassing of the title, the cover art for Theory Of Gravity certainly makes Meghan Wolf seem approachable.

#25

Rammstein

Liebe ist für alle da
Universal Records

It's probably tragically un-hip to put a Rammstein cover on this top album covers list, and you might think the album cover probably doesn't even seem all that astounding anyway. You'd be wrong, though, because while the layout is mediocre, the epic visual centerpiece of the cover art is worth noting. After all, it's not just a painting; it's a brilliantly lighted photograph that recalls techniques used by Rembrandt.

about the artist

Photograph by Eugenio Recuenco, a Spanish photographer and videographer whose works scream with his unique style.

#24

Pink Mountaintops

Outside Love
JagJaguwar

This tongue-in-cheek album cover isn't the only one this year featuring a photo of a book (see: Anya Marina's Slow & Steady Seduction: Phase II), but it is the more humorous of the two. Further evidence -- a sticker on the packaged album -- quips that the album contains, "Ten songs of love and hate that read like a Danielle Steele novel." Sure.

about the artist

Artwork by Jeremy Schmidt, a member of sister band Black Mountain.

#23

Little Dragon

Machine Dreams
Peacefrog

Perhaps the best part about the album cover art for Little Dragon's Machine Dreams is the fact that the stock it was chosen to be printed on makes it look hand-painted, directly onto the cover. The chaos of it feels appropriate for Little Dragon's brand of avant-garde electronic pop, too.

#22

St. Vincent

Actor
4AD Recordings

The album cover for Actor has been simultaneously hated and loved, and one could argue the case that truly great art polarizes people. If so, this cover might be great, as it is definitely among a handful of covers that consistently made both best and worst lists this year.

#21

N.A.S.A.

The Spirit Of Apollo
ANTI-

N.A.S.A. came out of nowhere and released The Spirit Of Apollo without anyone really knowing who they were or how they were able to pull in guest stars from Karen O and Tom Waits to RZA and David Byrne. Their album artwork added another layer of surprise, as there were interchangeable covers created by notable urban artists such as Sage Vaughan, Shepard Fairey, Mark Gonzales, Marcel Dzama, and The Date Farmers.

about the artist

Artwork by Sage Vaughan, a Los Angeles-based painter.

#20

White Rabbits

It's Frightening
TBD Records

How does one convey the idea of something being frightening without coming off as overly cheesy or horrific? Successful use of typography and photography both play a role in achieving that goal with this album art, which leaves a great deal to the imagination.

about the artist

Photography and design by Andrew Droz Palermo, who has photographed for a host of big-hitters, including Rolling Stone, SPIN, Much Music, and MTV.

#19

Pelican

What We All Come To Need
Southern Lord Records

Pelican return with their fourth album, What We All Come To Need, and the album cover might seem a little froo-froo if Pelican weren't so comfortable with their niche in post-metal. Nonetheless, because they are, they can pretty much do whatever kind of gorgeous, somewhat-New Age cover art they want to, and it's just fine.

about the artists

Photography by Andrew Weiss, a photographer who shoots everything from bands to abandonment and nature.

Design and photo montage by Seldon Hunt, a Brooklyn resident who designs, illustrates, and serves as an art director.

#18

Every Time I Die

New Junk Aesthetic
Drag City

Line art and urban art lovers probably will really dig the album art for New Junk Aesthetic. Is he a tree? Is he made up of strange body parts? Are his arms intestines? Are his eyeballs bursting through his rotting hands? Does he have his fingers interlocked with his brain? Are those earthworms coming out from under his beard? It's all kind of grotesque, but creative... and are you looking at the inking and coloring? They're fantastic!

about the artist

Illustration by Jordan Buckley, the guitarist for Every Time I Die.

#17

Bat For Lashes

Two Suns
Parlophone Records

If you've ever been to a Bat For Lashes show, you'd know that they have an aesthetic that comes off as dark, but in a mystical, majestic way. The album cover for Two Suns, with its elaborate set design and use of popular religious iconography, definitely captures Natasha Khan's spirit very well.

about the artists

Photography by David Benjamin Sherry, whose photography really drinks in color.

Design, layout, and set design by Tony Hornecker, who takes part in some really fascinating art installations.