Ugliest album covers by your favorite bands

I love this album SO FUCKING MUCH, but I've never liked the cover. I mean, it's an interesting shot, I suppose, but something about the color scheme and the the whole look just feels wrong to me. Between JJ Burnell's "hello, sailor" pose and Dave's goofy fur coat'n'mustache combo...it's an eyesore. But the tunes contained therein are unimpeachable.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 29 May 2004 09:00 (twenty-two years ago)

http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drf500/f534/f53429fiwfn.jpg

http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drc600/c612/c61223o2203.jpg

http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drc300/c397/c39727l7lrx.jpg

http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drc500/c513/c51321d4jb7.jpg
My FAVORITE band...awful covers...D. put the magic marker down!!!

― ddb, Saturday, 29 May 2004 10:41 (twenty-two years ago)

I think Buzz or Howl.... is a decent one....their others are indeed awful, though, yes.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 29 May 2004 10:50 (twenty-two years ago)

I've actually never liked this cover either, despite adoring the album. I like the font, but the model (not a member of the band) just seems rather cheezey.

http://home.clara.net/antoni/fireda.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 29 May 2004 10:53 (twenty-two years ago)

http://www.proxis.be/IMG2/02/60/08/2600863M.jpg

http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drf900/f937/f93767a2u80.jpg

― jesus nathalie (nathalie), Saturday, 29 May 2004 10:57 (twenty-two years ago)

http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B000026YEO.02.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

i kinda like the image, but the fonts, size and colours of the lettering are ALL WRONG.

― Neil FC (Neil FC), Saturday, 29 May 2004 13:34 (twenty-two years ago)

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0000018UZ.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

― Jazzbo (jmcgaw), Saturday, 29 May 2004 13:35 (twenty-two years ago)

I like that Replacements cover. No frills.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 29 May 2004 17:46 (twenty-two years ago)

http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drf600/f655/f65553hxdrb.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 29 May 2004 17:51 (twenty-two years ago)

http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drf900/f910/f91010zhy8t.jpg
http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drf900/f993/f99381swzqs.jpg

― N. (nickdastoor), Saturday, 29 May 2004 18:07 (twenty-two years ago)

i love the cure and devo covers

― astroblaster (astroblaster), Saturday, 29 May 2004 18:10 (twenty-two years ago)

I love the cover to Spring Hill Fair.

― Dan Selzer (Dan Selzer), Saturday, 29 May 2004 18:17 (twenty-two years ago)

that plaid cover is quite nice too.

― m. (mitchlnw), Saturday, 29 May 2004 18:31 (twenty-two years ago)

I've never posted a pic before. This is an experiment:
http://www.discosavvy.com/images/kingworldcover.jpg

― Bimble (bimble), Saturday, 29 May 2004 20:42 (twenty-two years ago)

http://www.discosavvy.com/images/kingworldcover.jpg

― Bimble (bimble), Saturday, 29 May 2004 20:45 (twenty-two years ago)

That's Sheila and B. Devotion, btw.

― Bimble (bimble), Saturday, 29 May 2004 20:46 (twenty-two years ago)

I've never seen that cover before but it appears to be completely awesome!

― N. (nickdastoor), Saturday, 29 May 2004 20:50 (twenty-two years ago)

http://images.google.com/images?q=tbn:eyBj7JzNYSAJ:www.ozzyhead.com/albums/paranoid.jpg http://images.google.com/images?q=tbn:Gh3AHa1gOqcJ:perso.ksurf.net/salmacis/pochettes/Ledzep_Coda.jpg http://images.google.com/images?q=tbn:VmjWVR1m2RwJ:images.amazon.com/images/P/B000001FOD.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg http://images.google.com/images?q=tbn:4qC97rvzTmIJ:members.lycos.nl/teejo/disco/10unconlp.jpg http://www.epinions.com/images/opti/bc/ed/62128-resized200.jpg http://images.google.com/images?q=tbn:m2UKPEPM9bEJ:www.sksbrno.cz/covers/images/audio/t/the_beatles-magical_mystery_tour-front.jpg http://images.google.com/images?q=tbn:SxAgvjlBJUEJ:www.rockprophecy.com/vs.jpg http://images.google.com/images?q=tbn:Z1fCTX285RIJ:www.musicmatic.de/F/Funkade8a.jpg http://www.diskunion.co.jp/s_sale/noise/img/01RM_050.jpg

― Myonga Von Bontee (Myonga Von Bontee), Sunday, 30 May 2004 00:28 (twenty-two years ago)

one month passes...

I was just listening to this . . .

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000000Y0E.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

― Rickey Wright (Rrrickey), Thursday, 29 July 2004 09:56 (twenty-one years ago)

I really like most of their album covers, but this one I never got.

http://store2.yimg.com/I/tmbg-catalog_1798_2266002.jpg

(That's They Might Be Giants if you don't already know my favorite band. The album is a rarities comp they released called They Got Lost.)

― martin m. (mushrush), Thursday, 29 July 2004 15:34 (twenty-one years ago)

Not really one of my favorite bands, but definitely the worst album art of all time.

― Talent Explosion (Talent Explosion), Thursday, 29 July 2004 15:40 (twenty-one years ago)

three years pass...

http://www.cdtimes.co.uk/images/covers/fleetwoodmac_tusk.jpg

― jaymc, Tuesday, 3 June 2008 20:47 (eighteen years ago)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Deep_Purple_Come_Taste.jpg

― Bill Magill, Tuesday, 3 June 2008 20:58 (eighteen years ago)

Some competition for this one, but:

http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drd600/d662/d66281s6b3r.jpg

http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drf100/f143/f14357h6var.jpg

http://a0.vox.com/6a00c22522dcc9604a00cd970294184cd5-500pi

― Doctor Casino, Tuesday, 3 June 2008 23:19 (eighteen years ago)

TS: that one or the original one: http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/513FU4FC9lL._AA240_.jpg

― jaymc, Tuesday, 3 June 2008 23:21 (eighteen years ago)

The original is corny and kinda dingy, but at least feels like it sorta goes with the album. The reissue manages to combine "hideous Rorschach-blot bird/sheep head" with "Now Playing at Starbucks."

― Doctor Casino, Tuesday, 3 June 2008 23:27 (eighteen years ago)

Kate Bush, Lionheart

― Oilyrags, Tuesday, 3 June 2008 23:29 (eighteen years ago)

Boys Don't Cry, Juju, Trompe le Monde, Stink! all have classic covers

― stephen, Tuesday, 3 June 2008 23:46 (eighteen years ago)

the galaxie 500 peel sessions sleeve is uggers

― electricsound, Tuesday, 3 June 2008 23:47 (eighteen years ago)

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51F6PT1YHJL._SL500_AA240_.jpg
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41P0D3YSE3L._SL500_AA240_.jpg

― Elvis Telecom, Wednesday, 4 June 2008 00:58 (eighteen years ago)

All BJM covers are shit.

― libcrypt, Wednesday, 4 June 2008 02:35 (eighteen years ago)

http://www.gorbag.co.uk/CDs/cds_files/b9ceb06c7cd3b7fa6ec1cd58b69cca94.png

― Pillbox, Wednesday, 4 June 2008 02:54 (eighteen years ago)

http://www.bulletsofautumn.com/boredoms/bore017.gif

the album is amazing, though.

― Creeztophair, Wednesday, 4 June 2008 03:07 (eighteen years ago)

was going to propose something from rem's vault of uglies, but then realised they're not favourite band calibre for me anymore.

i'll pick something from the cure instead. probably kiss me, kiss me, kiss me

― Charlie Howard, Wednesday, 4 June 2008 05:30 (eighteen years ago)

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/28/An_ideal_for_living.jpg

― Ned Trifle II, Wednesday, 4 June 2008 07:15 (eighteen years ago)

Ugh - Where is Peter Saville when you need him?

― Pillbox, Wednesday, 4 June 2008 07:20 (eighteen years ago)

and they WONDERED why folks thought that they were crypto-nazis ...

― Eisbaer, Wednesday, 4 June 2008 07:30 (eighteen years ago)

Still second best band ever. I can't decide on the worst New Order cover.

― Ned Trifle II, Wednesday, 4 June 2008 07:54 (eighteen years ago)

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/418E5KWFXPL._SL500_AA240_.jpg

― thorn, Wednesday, 4 June 2008 07:59 (eighteen years ago)

http://bigpicture.typepad.com/comments/images/2007/10/04/boys_and_girls_in_america.jpg

― kingkongvsgodzilla, Wednesday, 4 June 2008 09:54 (eighteen years ago)

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/I/41R5Y38JG7L.jpg

This is a classic example of too much going on in one pic. Did they really have to put their name twice in the cover, plus their initials too? And I think one pic of them would've been enough as well.

― Tuomas, Wednesday, 4 June 2008 09:59 (eighteen years ago)

http://imaginaryboys.altervista.org/english/cure/discography/images/bloodflowers_front.jpg

― baaderonixx, Wednesday, 4 June 2008 10:08 (eighteen years ago)

http://bp2.blogger.com/_GQtuh1Q_luQ/R6VGm_IkIlI/AAAAAAAAByk/guzhyrDO9CA/s320/Tuxedomoon+-+Half-Mute-Scream-With-A-View+-.jpg

― baaderonixx, Wednesday, 4 June 2008 10:09 (eighteen years ago)

If this is what you need to listen to to do good graphic design, than it's just as well...

http://designerside.com/article/music-to-work-by-15-albums-necessary-for-any-designers-playlist#more-63

Turn the Jimmy Eats World up to 12!

― bendy, Wednesday, 4 June 2008 11:07 (eighteen years ago)

http://www.lastvisibledog.com/images/116.jpg

Somehow it looks much worse and more slick in a way when it's actually in the jewel case. I think a lot of my disgust lies with the typeface and color scheme. Like some late '90s early '00s mainstream rock thing, or like a bad altrock compilation advertised on tv late at night. The photograph on the back however is awesome.

― RabiesAngentleman, Wednesday, 4 June 2008 13:45 (eighteen years ago)

Mm, that doesn't look so bad there...

― RabiesAngentleman, Wednesday, 4 June 2008 13:46 (eighteen years ago)

http://apurgeofdissidents.com/shop/images/godbulliesdogshow.jpg

Not sure why I don't like this one, apart from the typeface again...

― RabiesAngentleman, Wednesday, 4 June 2008 13:51 (eighteen years ago)

oops

http://apurgeofdissidents.com/shop/images/godbulliesdogshow.jpg

― RabiesAngentleman, Wednesday, 4 June 2008 13:51 (eighteen years ago)

http://ak.buy.com/db_assets/prod_lrg_images/550/203427550.jpg

bleh

― RabiesAngentleman, Wednesday, 4 June 2008 13:56 (eighteen years ago)

http://www.laurelcanyonthebook.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/11/Black-Sabbath-Paranoid-362428.jpg

I have such a love/hate thing with this cover!

― RabiesAngentleman, Wednesday, 4 June 2008 14:00 (eighteen years ago)

http://images-jp.amazon.com/images/P/B00000G4SH.09.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

― Øystein, Wednesday, 4 June 2008 14:20 (eighteen years ago)

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/82/Thnaked.jpg

http://static.rateyourmusic.com/album_images/10810.jpg

http://www.progreviews.com/reviews/images/Can-Sound.jpg

― kenan, Wednesday, 4 June 2008 14:36 (eighteen years ago)

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y161/steveshelleyfanclub/tillman.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y161/steveshelleyfanclub/newmorning.jpg

― myndbloom, Wednesday, 4 June 2008 15:30 (eighteen years ago)

err, the New Morning cover ain't great but there is FAR worse!

― baaderonixx, Wednesday, 4 June 2008 15:38 (eighteen years ago)

that art ensemble of chicago cover is so good

― RabiesAngentleman, Wednesday, 4 June 2008 15:43 (eighteen years ago)

i mean technically there seem like some bad design choices but overall it's so striking and i can't help but love it

― RabiesAngentleman, Wednesday, 4 June 2008 15:44 (eighteen years ago)

and that hideous rainbow and ugly colors and the way everything clashes seems pretty fitting for the aeoc

― RabiesAngentleman, Wednesday, 4 June 2008 15:45 (eighteen years ago)

http://cover6.cduniverse.com/MuzeAudioArt/770/779555.jpg

― Aja, Wednesday, 4 June 2008 16:11 (eighteen years ago)

I can't decide on the worst New Order cover. - Do N.O. have any bad album artwork? Everything of theirs that comes to mind is fair (Republic) to Inarguably Fucking Brilliant (Low-Life; Power Corruption & Lies). Then again, I'd never seen that Joy Division sleeve you posted upthread, so maybe there is something out there..

Re: SFA - Phantom Power is incorrect. The real answer is:

http://cms.pitchforkmedia.com/images/image/42387.heyvenus.jpg

― Pillbox, Wednesday, 4 June 2008 17:06 (eighteen years ago)

err, the New Morning cover ain't great but there is FAR worse!

-- baaderonixx, Wednesday, June 4, 2008 4:38 PM (1 hour ago)

I just dislike self-portrait covers. Plus, Dylan looks like Cat Stevens on New Morning.

― myndbloom, Wednesday, 4 June 2008 17:27 (eighteen years ago)

oh god, i forgot about hey venus, barf

― thorn, Wednesday, 4 June 2008 17:35 (eighteen years ago)

I think Buzz or Howl.... is a decent one....their others are indeed awful, though, yes.

The cover of Buzz or Howl was actually drawn by Saccharine Trust's Joe Baiza; it was originally supposed to be a picture of tree frogs from National Geographic or something, but apparently the cost of CMYK printing was too high, so they asked Byza to do a B/W sketch of D. and Watt bickering.

By the way, I LOVE the cover of The Punch Line.

― MacDara, Wednesday, 4 June 2008 17:48 (eighteen years ago)

http://bp2.blogger.com/_GQtuh1Q_luQ/R6VGm_IkIlI/AAAAAAAAByk/guzhyrDO9CA/s320/Tuxedomoon+-+Half-Mute-Scream-With-A-View+-.jpg

oooh, I quite like this, actually. I'd give it a listen based on the cover.

― asey, Wednesday, 4 June 2008 22:07 (eighteen years ago)

http://www.kevchino.com/graffix/releases/radiohead-pablo-honey.jpg

― Creeztophair, Wednesday, 4 June 2008 22:29 (eighteen years ago)

http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drf600/f607/f60756bwrwh.jpg

― asey, Wednesday, 4 June 2008 22:48 (eighteen years ago)

http://www.ferhiga.com/progre/portadas/genesis-abacab.jpg

― Geir Hongro, Wednesday, 4 June 2008 22:51 (eighteen years ago)

My favorite bands don't have ugly album covers. OK I'm not so keen on this one:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/83/PetShopBoysRelease.jpg

― daavid, Thursday, 5 June 2008 01:07 (eighteen years ago)

That Macca cover is embarrassing bad!

― daavid, Thursday, 5 June 2008 01:11 (eighteen years ago)

...and so is my grammar.

― daavid, Thursday, 5 June 2008 01:12 (eighteen years ago)

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