Pop goes classical in album cover awards

Jenjie · 05-01-2009, 12:19 PM

Classical imagery is the newest idea in album cover design, judging by the winners of this year's Best Art Vinyl award.

The winner and the third placed entry are both adaptions of well known paintings, both centuries old, while in second place there is an original work that is designed to look like an adapted classical bust. The winners were announced after 3,000 people voted in an annual competition organised by the company Art Vinyl, which compiled a shortlist of 50 new album covers from 2008. Newcomers Fleet Foxes, a five-member indie rock group from Seattle, took first prize for the cover of their eponymous debut album.

If the image seems familiar, it is because it is 450 years old this year. It is the central portion of Netherlandish Proverbs, painted in 1559 by the Flemish master Pieter Bruegel the Elder. The front of Slime and Reason, the new album by the south London rapper Roots Manuva, also has a familiar look, although it is original. It is an image of the singer himself with skull opened, brain scooped out, and the cavity filled with green slime. The pose, however, appears to have been consciously modelled on classical busts.

Coldplay have used a 178-year-old painting for the cover of their album Viva La Vida, which was placed third. They reproduced Liberty Leading the People, painted by the 19th-century Romantic artist Eugene Delacroix.

Andrew Heeps, Art Vinyl's director, said: "The Best Art Vinyl award has very much celebrated the work of new emerging artists and graphic designers, so this year it has been a real surprise to see how some past artistic works have proven to be so popular."

The covers will be on display at the Rough Trade East gallery in London this month, and in other galleries across the country until 18 February.

The top 20: Old beats new

1. Fleet Foxes Fleet Foxes
2. Roots Manuva Slime & Reason
3. Coldplay Viva La Vida
4. Goldfrapp Seventh Tree
5. Elbow The Seldom Seen Kid
6. Metallica Death Magnetic
7. Bloc Party Intimacy
8. Low Motion Disco Keep It Slow
9. Santogold Santogold
10. Zombie Zombie Dog Walker
11. The Last Shadow Puppets The Age Of The Understatement
12. Alter Ego Jolly Joker Remixes
13. Black Devil Disco Club Eight O Eight
14. Underground Railroad Sticks And Stones
15. London Elektricity Syncopated City
16. Flying Lotus Los Angeles EP 2/3
17. Bon Iver For Emma, Forever Ago
18. Nancy Elizabeth Battle And Victory
19. Foals Antidotes
20. Liquid Liquid Slip In And Out Of The Phenomenon

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-en...s-1225808.html

Black Rose · 05-01-2009, 09:52 PM

Yay for Fleet Foxes

squareonefivesix · 05-01-2009, 10:17 PM

Yay Coldplay third

The winner is a nice cover. But Antidotes is really hideous and some are just rather mediocre and not particularly inspiring. Lots of album covers these days are rather dull and not very iconic so I'm glad the artistic ones are getting recognition

gotcheese2768 · 05-01-2009, 11:45 PM

i like the winner but of course being a coldplay fan i wanted them to win!

05-01-2009, 12:19 PM	#1
Jenjie PA to SammyBeeBurns Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 5,810 My Mood: Location: at Coldplaying.com Gender: Country: Chat posts: 0 Thanks given: 35 Thanked 90 Times in 41 Posts	Pop goes classical in album cover awards Classical imagery is the newest idea in album cover design, judging by the winners of this year's Best Art Vinyl award. The winner and the third placed entry are both adaptions of well known paintings, both centuries old, while in second place there is an original work that is designed to look like an adapted classical bust. The winners were announced after 3,000 people voted in an annual competition organised by the company Art Vinyl, which compiled a shortlist of 50 new album covers from 2008. Newcomers Fleet Foxes, a five-member indie rock group from Seattle, took first prize for the cover of their eponymous debut album. If the image seems familiar, it is because it is 450 years old this year. It is the central portion of Netherlandish Proverbs, painted in 1559 by the Flemish master Pieter Bruegel the Elder. The front of Slime and Reason, the new album by the south London rapper Roots Manuva, also has a familiar look, although it is original. It is an image of the singer himself with skull opened, brain scooped out, and the cavity filled with green slime. The pose, however, appears to have been consciously modelled on classical busts. Coldplay have used a 178-year-old painting for the cover of their album Viva La Vida, which was placed third. They reproduced Liberty Leading the People, painted by the 19th-century Romantic artist Eugene Delacroix. Andrew Heeps, Art Vinyl's director, said: "The Best Art Vinyl award has very much celebrated the work of new emerging artists and graphic designers, so this year it has been a real surprise to see how some past artistic works have proven to be so popular." The covers will be on display at the Rough Trade East gallery in London this month, and in other galleries across the country until 18 February. The top 20: Old beats new 1. Fleet Foxes Fleet Foxes 2. Roots Manuva Slime & Reason 3. Coldplay Viva La Vida 4. Goldfrapp Seventh Tree 5. Elbow The Seldom Seen Kid 6. Metallica Death Magnetic 7. Bloc Party Intimacy 8. Low Motion Disco Keep It Slow 9. Santogold Santogold 10. Zombie Zombie Dog Walker 11. The Last Shadow Puppets The Age Of The Understatement 12. Alter Ego Jolly Joker Remixes 13. Black Devil Disco Club Eight O Eight 14. Underground Railroad Sticks And Stones 15. London Elektricity Syncopated City 16. Flying Lotus Los Angeles EP 2/3 17. Bon Iver For Emma, Forever Ago 18. Nancy Elizabeth Battle And Victory 19. Foals Antidotes 20. Liquid Liquid Slip In And Out Of The Phenomenon http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-en...s-1225808.html __________________ "The fat lady has sung and the world's Vida has been well and truly Viva-ed." - R#42 14th March 2010 I've got my "I Heart Coldplaying.com, It's My Life" knickers in a twist!!! 2012: 9&10 June - Manchester Etihad; 2011: 4 Dec - MEN Arena 2010: 25 Nov - Boat Trip 2009: 30 Jan - Absolute Radio; 18 Feb - War Child; 19 Sep - Wembley 2008: 11&12 Dec - MEN Arena 2005: 4&5 July - Reebok Stadium; 19 Dec - MEN Arena 2003: 14 Apr - MEN Arena 2002: 20 June - Mountford Hall; 11 Oct - MEN Arena

05-01-2009, 09:52 PM	#2
Black Rose Bear with me Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 47,603 My Mood: Location: A strangeland under the iron sea where hopes & fears can make the night train be in perfect symmetry Gender: Country: Chat posts: 0 Thanks given: 6 Thanked 112 Times in 90 Posts	Yay for Fleet Foxes __________________ You could take a picture of something you see In the future where will I be? You could climb a ladder up to the sun Or write a song nobody had sung Or do something that's never been done

05-01-2009, 10:17 PM	#3
squareonefivesix chewing on monkey brains Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 7,469 My Mood: Location: in the butterfly house Gender: Country: Seen CP: 4 times Fav. CP album: X&Y Fav. CP member: Chat posts: 0 Thanks given: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Yay Coldplay third The winner is a nice cover. But Antidotes is really hideous and some are just rather mediocre and not particularly inspiring. Lots of album covers these days are rather dull and not very iconic so I'm glad the artistic ones are getting recognition __________________ did you notice that happiness happens less the more often you stop to find where it's been hiding ♫ \|\| ♥ \|\| A

05-01-2009, 11:45 PM	#4
gotcheese2768 Erick Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 10,080 My Mood: Location: California Gender: Country: Chat posts: 0 Thanks given: 22 Thanked 15 Times in 9 Posts	i like the winner but of course being a coldplay fan i wanted them to win! __________________ Coldplay Concerts=13 Oracle - November 3, 2008 February 1st: Best morning ever, Coldplay Live 2003 watch party!