Record Covers that Captivate
I’ve been thinking about record album covers lately, too, and how a great cover design draws me to a record. An exquisitely rendered cover design not only captures the cumulative tone of the album, it gently reveals the mystery, the secrets of its contents. Like any great work of art, a great album cover tells a story of its own, one that compels us to return to it.
I thought I’d share a few of my favorites and would love to hear about yours!
In my opinion, these three record albums are examples of great cover designs. The gem of music within is certainly Bon Iver’s Grammy Award winning record album, but they are all worth a listen.
The Beach Fossil’s EP, What a Pleasure (2011): featuring the band’s early dream-pop, lo-fi sound. The record seems to transport us to a summer vacation from the past, filled with the angst and hope of teenage youth. The album cover is memorable for the solitary window it portrays, reflecting the trees and sky, and the mystery of who may be within, looking out. And then, upon closer observation, the baseball, inches away from shattering this glass, this dream…
Runo Plum, Patching (2025): Runo Plum’s debut album cover is an original watercolor painting by the indie singer-songwriter artist herself. I love her choice of the butterfly, its moody color palette and soft, watery blends, capturing the meditative aesthetic of the songs within. I find this album hypnotic, daydreamy, levitating. I look forward to see where this young artist is headed.
Bon Iver, Bon Iver (2011): This is my favorite album cover of all time, and certainly among my favorite indie-alternative music vinyl records. I am simply captivated by this place, this hilly landscape of ponds, pine trees, cabins, and stones. An escape to the calming wilderness. Is it raining? The gray clouds and streaks indicate yes, but we see a hopeful splash of blue in the reflecting water, perhaps a break in the clouds drifting our way… This album received the exceedingly rare 9.5 Pitchfork review, which observes, “the music moves like a river, every bend both unpredictable and inevitable as it carves sound and emotion out of silence.” Indeed.
