Creating a viable album cover is so effortless that it’s now a running gag. Just add an explicit content sticker with a black & white filter and you’re good to go. Most album covers just have the artist with a tasteful background or outfit, which is fine but not a lot of thought has to be put into that. The best album covers often eschew the obvious self-branding opportunity of plastering your face on the screen every time someone hits play on Spotify in favor of something more subtle and complex. Some album covers here can be examined up close for tucked-away details and some just succinctly set the stage for what music awaits. Some utilize just the right font and color choices to entice the eyes. Some are just a little off the beaten path. Most of all, these 15 album covers defend a dying artform that once felt necessary to reach a teen in a ’80s record shop.
black midi – Cavalcade
Conway the Machine – La Maquina
Floating Points, Pharoah Sanders & the London Symphony Orchestra – Promises
Half Waif – Mythopoetics
Hand Habits – Fun House
Lost Girls – Menneskekollektivet
Mariah the Scientist – RY RY WORLD
Mdou Moctar – Afrique Victime
Nala Sinephro – Space 1.8
Nubiyan Twist – Freedom Fables
Pom Pom Squad – Death of a Cheerleader
Skee Mask – Pool
Trivium – In the Court of the Dragon
Weezer – OK Human
Wolves in the Throne Room – Primordial Arcana
Bitter Melodies 