5 classic albums that deserve way better cover art

As a gamer, I’ve learned that you can’t always judge a game by its cover, but let me tell you, an outstanding game deserves an eye-catching one. Game covers don’t enhance gameplay, but they certainly help in drawing players in. Sometimes, developers create fantastic games musically, but fall short visually.

Maybe the artwork was rushed, or maybe the band went with an idea that didn’t land.

Regardless of which ones you choose, these five albums are consistently strong from beginning to end. However, they could have benefitted from more appealing covers that would make a stronger initial impact.

5 classic records that deserved better album covers

1. Led Zeppelin – Presence

Among all Zeppelin’s covers, the one for “Presence” is undeniably the least impressive. It showcases a family gathered near an enigmatic object (referred to as “The Object”) within a white-framed box, with no additional elements. This design stands in stark contrast to the intricate artwork that characterized their earlier albums, opting instead for minimalism.

While straightforward designs aren’t necessarily problematic, there’s no denying that it bears a striking resemblance to Pink Floyd’s iconic “Wish You Were Here,” released only six months prior. This similarity gives the impression of imitation rather than an intentional artistic echo reflecting the album’s heavy theme.

The notion was a misguided attempt at self-importance, given that the band supposedly possessed such immense power they could do without attending. However, ironically, their presence turned out to be their least successful album sales-wise, making this decision even more ill-advised. A stronger or more impactful portrayal would have been fitting for the situation.

2. The Replacements – Tim

This ’80s alternative rock album serves as its era’s foundation, with raw emotion, catchy hooks, and a gritty feel. However, the cover art appears to be a disorganized collage of faces, shadows, and what seems like a dimly lit corridor resembling a dentist’s office waiting room. Unfortunately, it lacks clarity and fails to convey any meaningful information about the band or the songs on the album.

The group, known for their raw honesty when intoxicated and perplexed adolescent moments, required an upgrade with more character and edge. Fortunately, the 2023 remaster significantly improved the album’s sound quality and opted for a straightforward band image for the cover, replacing the stark, monotone aesthetics of earlier versions.

3. Beck – Mellow Gold

Beck’s groundbreaking work was remarkably quirky in a fantastic way, blending elements of folk, noise, and hip-hop in a manner that seemed almost improbable yet perfectly harmonious. The song “Loser” catapulted him to fame, but the entire album showcases even more unusual and intelligent compositions. Interestingly, the cover art resembles an early concept design for a Five Nights at Freddy’s animatronic figure.

Towering above a sea of red sand and dust, the junkyard sculpture seems incongruous with the ingenuity and spirit embodied by the album. Given its ability to create a universe from the detritus of popular culture, the artwork appears to have fallen short of capturing the essence of the humor it intended.

4. Self – Ornament & Crime

This album had two opportunities for a cover design, but unfortunately, it fell short on both attempts, failing to reach its full potential. The band initially shared a self-branded red fingerprint online in May 2003 as a preview, which was later adopted by Rafe Heltsley and officially endorsed when other fans started using it as well.

The creativity that typically characterizes oneself seems lacking in this cover design, appearing rather uninspired and overly cluttered with various fonts of poor quality and low-resolution images extracted from websites. Despite previous excitement following the announcement after the LimeWire leak, it appears that Ornament & Crime‘s new cover was not designed by the original creator again.

Andy Suriano, known for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, collaborated with the band leader on a soundtrack project. This collaboration led him to retrieve some of his sketches from 2008 and add text to them. At the end of the day, he labeled this work as finished. While the art isn’t poor this time around, it still falls short in comparison to the album’s overall sound.

5. Dirty Projectors – Swing Lo Magellan

Among their more approachable releases, the album titled “Swing Lo Magellan” opted for a softer, spacious feel instead of some intricate, intellectually challenging elements. It’s brimming with peculiar yet heartwarming tunes and instances of genuine emotional depth. The cover art is just a straightforward image of three individuals standing together amongst the trees.

Contemporary works resembling selfies are ubiquitous today, with artists like Sabrina Carpenter, Gracie Abrams, and others prominently showcased at Target. Yet, Dirty Projectors showcased in 2012 that this particular art form was still being refined at the time.

The cover art, with its uneven cropping and half-covered by a dark overlay, doesn’t stand out on its own. Within the context of the album, it lacks the sophistication and detail that’s found in their music. Given their visual and conceptual depth as a band, this design seems rather hasty and unrefined.

Occasionally, a fantastic album requires no introduction. However, if the cover art seems uninspired or haphazardly done, it may not immediately grab your attention. Yet, these five albums are still worth listening to, despite their modest initial appearance.

2025-06-30 13:00