Katie Flint’s top 7 ATL album covers of 2013
Like choosing a sports team in a bracket, or a bottle of wine, choosing an album can be a matter of how the album cover looks. These are my top seven album covers from Atlanta this year.
Sometimes people buy albums just because the cover is really cool to look at. However, the risk of taking home an album that isn’t exactly pleasing to the ears is high. These seven albums from 2013 pass both the good on the eyes and the good ears tests with flying colors.
- Phosphorescent
7. Phosphorescent, Muchacho: This is one of the two photograph album covers included on this year’s list. The somewhat sepia mood creates a relaxing tone (at least when I look at it). The album is a dreamy jam that went through a set of samplers, giving the record itself something of a sepia tone.
- Trinidad James
6. Trinidad Jame$, Don’t be S.A.F.E: Is it just me or is anyone else getting a ’70s funk album vibe from this cover (reissued via Def Jam in January)? I feel like I’m looking at a post-modern James Brown album or something. Of course, I don’t think the king himself would wear as much gold and thick rimmed glasses, but you get the idea. All he needs now is another album with him sitting out in the scenic wilderness.
5. Mood Rings, VPI Harmony: Surrealism in album covers is becoming a trend again. Maybe it’s because of the spreading legalization of marijuana. Regardless of mental state, this one is really nice to look at. Mood Rings look like they took a tesselation and added to their album cover. It really helps set the tone for the listener when they press play on their album.
4. Little Tybee, For Distant Viewing: Little Tybee gets bonus points for having a wonderful, photographic album cover in the midst of graphics and prints. The group’s sound on this album brings the listener back to summer. Also the title, For Distant Viewing, automatically strikes curiosity and the desire to go on an adventure.
- Noot d’Noot
3. Noot d’ Noot,Horn of Plenty: Cheers to the group that brings a big helping of nostalgia to their album cover. Noot d’ Noot isn’t a stranger to Atlanta, and it shows that the group is no stranger to the city’s musical past. During the 1960s, Atlanta was a wonderland of music, drugs, and free love in the South, and the homage to the groovy feelings of that time are showcased in Noot d’ Noot’s album.
- Washed Out
2. Washed Out, Paracosm: The entire album has a sample of chirping birds and ambient forest noises running through it. Clearly Washed Out kept this in mind when picking out the album’s cover design. Along with the print being visually beautiful, there is still that slight interest and mystery that comes with the now Athens-based artist. Maybe I’m just a sucker for white typeface that makes me squint, but the album cover makes me want to listen to this again and again.
- Goodie Mob
1. Goodie Mob, Age Against The Machine: This is No. 1 for two reasons: The album cover plays several different roles, taking a spin on the Beatles (the heads) and adding a little bit of Avatar: The Last Airbender in there with the elements being included in each of the group members. You go, Goodie Mob.
Katie Flint is currently living the dream as a Music Intern at Creative Loafing. Flint is also a student at Georgia Tech majoring in Science, Technology, and Culture with a concentration in Media. A music lover, she works at WREK Atlanta, Georgia Tech’s college radio station as the News Director and host of “Goldsoundz” which is WREK’s indie rock show. Continue reading.