Worst looking CD/LP artwork

[Baron Scarpia]

 

[The new erato]

I feel for you.

[Baron Scarpia]

Now I feel better!   

[Todd]

Cell phones should not be used to take album cover photos.

[The new erato]

You mean they don't sell?

[Todd]

You mean they don't sell?

I don't know.  They look like shit, though.

[Mirror Image]

I've actually seen this CD on a "best album cover" thread; but I loathe it.  I hate the title and I look at the photo (I hope that's not Upshaw) and think "lizard woman."   I probably shouldn't have bought it.

I'm not too enamored by the cover either, but the musical content is sumptuous and definitely top-drawer in terms of Upshaw's performances.

[Peter Power Pop]

Cell phones should not be used to take album cover photos.

I agree completely.

(Graphic Designer: "What colour do you want for the background?"
Record Company Dude: "How about the colour of her dress?"
Graphic Designer: "Sure. But it might not look very good."
Record Company Dude: "Don't worry about it. Nobody's gonna buy the CD anyway.")

[Mirror Image]

This is a possible contender for worst CD artwork:



Either Tamestit hates the music on this disc or he's yelling at the photographer to hurry up and take his picture or a combination of both. He's not a happy camper that much is certain.

[André]

Yup. This takes the cake, I think. He seems to shout DON'T BUY ME !!! Defies understanding 

[Mirror Image]

Yup. This takes the cake, I think. He seems to shout DON'T BUY ME !!! Defies understanding 

Indeed and since it's a Harmonia Mundi recording, it truly baffles me because their album covers are usually much more tastefully done.

[71 dB]

This is a possible contender for worst CD artwork:



Either Tamestit hates the music on this disc or he's yelling at the photographer to hurry up and take his picture or a combination of both. He's not a happy camper that much is certain.

How Harmonia Mundi has approved that abomination is beyond me. What a horrible mess! Why is the "Widmann" text shouting too? Why is "Viola Concerto" text orange? Gives very cheap impression. Why are the font size differences so HUGE? Tamestit looks like a pale Count Dracula thurst of your blood! Stay away! 

[André]

In this day of bodily perfection it's dentally incorrect, too. Not to mention the horrible skin complexion.

[Mirror Image]

How Harmonia Mundi has approved that abomination is beyond me. What a horrible mess! Why is the "Widmann" text shouting too? Why is "Viola Concerto" text orange? Gives very cheap impression. Why are the font size differences so HUGE? Tamestit looks like a pale Count Dracula thurst of your blood! Stay away! 

Indeed. An atrocious cover.

[Madiel]

The orange emphasizes the whole Halloween motif.

Is there anything in the music or context that would justify a Halloween or vampire motif?

That would be the only thing that would make sense of what is otherwise a bizarre cover. And I hadn't even noticed until others pointed it out that this is Harmonia Mundi. I agree, this isn't their normal style at all.

[Baron Scarpia]

A little googling reveals that it is an unconventional concerto in which the soloist moves around the stage like an actor, following stage directions.  Probably the cover depicts a scene from the "play."

I certainly concur with the consensus the it is unappealing.

[Peter Power Pop]

Straight from the cover of a gothic romance novel to you...



My favourite part of that cover is the exclamation point.

[Madiel]

My guess would be it comes from one of the lyrics? I say that partly because Bridge is from the right era to be setting English poems with a tendency towards exclamation marks...

[ComposerOfAvantGarde]

This is a possible contender for worst CD artwork:



Either Tamestit hates the music on this disc or he's yelling at the photographer to hurry up and take his picture or a combination of both. He's not a happy camper that much is certain.

Hm I actually find this to be a compelling cover and would be inclined to listen to the CD if I saw this.

[Biffo]

Hm I actually find this to be a compelling cover and would be inclined to listen to the CD if I saw this.

I was intrigued enough by the cover and this discussion to listen to the Viola Concerto on Spotify but not moved to take the matter any further.