#36

HORSE the band

Desperate Living
Vagrant Records

Like a photo from a dysfunctional family's photo album, the album cover for Desperate Living is humorous in an awkward, grotesque kind of way. Awkwardness might be played out in movies, but not so on album covers... which makes this still kind of clever, whether you like it or not. It's simply perfect for a band that would release a statement along the lines of the following: "We are the coolest band in the world. Everything you have ever heard about us is true. We are fucking crazy and we are very brave. We booked a 45-country, 3-month world tour by ourselves and we didn't die, although we almost did a bunch of times." (For an added dose of sarcastic hilarity: check out the gross, but perfectly intentional, overuse of the album cover on their websites.)

#35

WOODS

Songs Of Shame
Woodsist / Shrimper

WOODS -- quite different from The Woods or even In The Woods, mind you -- captured the attention of many this year with their brand of lo-fi psychedelic and freak folk. The album cover for Songs Of Shame, which has an eyeball seeming like a UFO hovering in the distance, is appealing in the way lo-fi music is appealing; it's not the most refined output, but something about the imperfect nature of it all is just charming.

About The Artist

Artwork by Jeremy Earl, who is in charge of the aesthetic for Fuck It Tapes/Woodsist, Meneguar, and WOODS.

#34

The Swell Season

Strict Joy
ANTI-

Glen Hansard of The Frames and Marketa Irglova, a classically-trained Czech pianist and vocalist, came together to form The Swell Season. And just as the musical project was stitched together from two individuals with existing musical histories, the album cover has been stitched together from two photographs that could've easily formed a generic portrait drawing. Instead, though, the drawing was taken slightly outside the confines of reality to offer much more visually.

about the artist

Drawings by David Cleary, an Irish painter and photographer. A limited edition of fine art prints of this cover art can be attained by writing Cleary at davidcleary@davidclearyart.com.

#33

Telepathe

Dance Mother
I Am Sound Records

The photography on the cover of Dance Mother is stark, crisp, clean, and not what you'd expect from the electronic rock duo Telepathe. At the same time, though, it captures the album title well, using simple bodily forms, such as an opened palm and an extended arm, to create a sense of motion.

about the artists

Photography by Andreas Laszlo Konrath, who shoots commercial photography, writes stories, and creates zines.

Design and layout by Saam Farahmand, a graphic designer and filmmaker.

#32

Volcano Choir

Unmap
JagJaguwar

As evidenced by their press photos, the boys of Volcano Choir seem to have taken a liking to covering themselves in blankets and frolicking in the great outdoors. While the press photos all look slightly goofy, with each member donning a blanket of a different color or pattern, the album cover for Volcano Choir's Unmap is mysterious. And when everyone was wondering what to expect from Justin Vernon (Bon Iver)'s new side project, the album cover helped perpetuate the mystery.

about the artists

Photography by Adrienne DeBoer, a photographer whose "artistic vision stems from a compulsion to preserve memories."

Design and artwork by Thomas Wincek, a member of Volcano Choir, All Tiny Creatures, Collections Of Colonies Of Bees, and Emotional Joystick.

#31

Propagandhi

Supporting Caste
G7 Welcoming Committee Records

Loads and loads of nudity? Check! Cherubs alongside Native Americans alongside conquistadors alongside animal-headed warriors alongside mythical creatures? Check! Everything lies in the details for this album cover, which is mostly comprised of an excellent painted work.

about the artist

Painting by Kent Monkman, a multi-disciplinary artist who paints, makes films, creates installations, and engages in performance art.

#30

Iron Age

The Sleeping Eye
Tee Pee Records

Landscapes formed from the collaged remains of paintings and photographs form a black and white earth that's exploding with colorful painted lava flowing upwards. Or perhaps it's a shadowy landscape set against a brilliant sky? Either way, it's gritty, yet kind of classy.

#29

Annie

Don't Stop
Smalltown Supersound

Lightwriting is getting a bit overplayed, sure, but it isn't just the lightwriting that makes this album cover. Her expression and her Snow White-meets-tigers-meets-8-bit-meets-sequins outfit certainly contribute to making it all come together.

about the artist

Artwork by Petri Henriksson.

#28

Ear Pwr

Super Animal Brothers III
Carpark Records

Some people really hate this album cover. Perhaps it's just too easy to hate on a neon image of two dudes building Lego cars while clad in Hulk-style torn shorts and baring their rosy pink nipples. Visually speaking, though, it's hard to deny this album cover is striking and attention-grabbing.

#27

The Horrors

Primary Colours
XL Recordings

The Horrors' last album cover for Strange House featured a black and white photograph of the five members sitting pretty (and they are pretty). It was fine photography, sure, but a bit straight-forward and press photo-like. The album artwork for Primary Colours is the complete opposite, reveling in blurred forms and ambiguity.

about the artist

Artwork by Ciaran O'Shea, an art director based in the UK.