Digipack Analysis

Mumford & Sons ~ Sigh No More Front Cover✤ The album cover is very typical of

the band and the genre of music that the band falls in to. It has various connotations and lots of indie music iconography such as the instruments that are featured in the picture. The instruments on the album cover are not instruments you would usually associate with popular, well known music, they are very genre specific, e.g the banjo, the accordion and the double base. By featuring these instruments on the album cover itself, the band have been given an image and it also lets the consumer see the type of music they play without having to actually listen to any of their music.

✤ The costumes worn by the band are typical of the genre of music they play, by wearing things like waistcoats, tweed jackets and cowboy hats they are going against the conventions of popular culture - they are setting their own trend that will attract an audience that will be interested in what they have to offer.

✤ The setting of the image is very typical of the genre of music as it is quite a quirky, indie location, not something that is featured on the albums of

popular main stream artists who’s album covers usually feature an image of the artist as the main focal point, this album cover almost makes the

band seem small and humble, more appreciative of everything they have achieved.

✤ The font for the band logo is the same font that they always use, this helps to build synergy between the CD’s and the advert for the album.

✤ The font is also very old fashioned looking, also portraying the older style of music that the band have brought back and recreated to a more modern, appealable style.

Back Cover✤ The text used on the back of the

album is the same text that is used on the front, this helps keep continuity from the front of the album to the back, this makes the digipack feel more like one product as a whole.

✤ This track list keeps up the indie conventions that were made apparent on the front cover, this is done by having another indie image that wouldn't feature on many other artists albums, it is just a picture of a slightly ajar window. The window is a similar style to the windows on the front on the building, shown on the front cover, this is also helps to show continuity throughout the album since everything relates back to the same original idea.

✤ The logos of the different distribution companies and productions companies involved with the album are also at the bottom of the track list, they have been stylised to fit the themes of the album by having colour taken out of them.

✤ The barcode and copyright details for the album are also included on the back as they are necessary but they don’t have the same feel as the rest of the album, the text has been stylised and made smaller so it doesn't stand out as much as everything else that should be focussed on.

✤ The track list os set out in a way that isn't usually seen on mainstream album covers, track lists are more commonly set out one below the other with the track number at the side. However on the back of this album the tracks are positioned one after another with no track numbers next to them, this keeps the minimalist style that this album radiates.

Ben Howard ~ Every Kingdom Front Cover

✤ The artist’s name is very big and bold at the top of the cover. This draws the attention of consumers and emphasises the artist himself.

✤ The cover has a bold white border which nicely frames the image and gives a clean, professional image.

✤ The image used on the front of the cover has no obvious relevance to the album although it is consistent with the outdoors/nature theme

found within the artists music videos and lyrics.

✤ The album title is considerably smaller and positioned off centre to the left, I personally think this looks very effective as the focus isn’t on

the album name but the artist himself.

✤ The image of the man diving into the water is very captivating. The lighting and framing of the image is very effective, and captures the audiences interest, which is heightened as the mans face is not shown, making the audience wonder if it is the artist himself.

Back Cover

✤ The back cover of the album is very empty, having only the track list, the copyright laws and distribution/production company details on it.

✤ The font for the tracks is the same one used for the album and artist name, showing continuity throughout and that the album links together.

✤ Even though there isn't much on the back, by keeping it simple it helps to enhance the artists aims of the album and what it includes, there isn't anything over the top or tacky - this doesn't degrade the artist himself.

✤ The colour of the back is very natural and clean looking, sticking with the theme of the outdoors included in music videos/lyrics, very natural and simplistic.

Tom Odell ~ Long Way Down Front Cover✤ The image on the cover features the

main artist, who will be recognised to fans and consumers. Since he is a solo artist, he will be the brand so featuring him on the front cover will help the product to sell.

✤ Conventional of the indie genre is the use of muted or dulled colours which is consistent within this album. This has to create a sense of humility when compared with the bold and vibrant colours of pop artists for example.

✤ The font used furthers the idea that the artist is no concerned with a flashy brand image and has opted for an effective but minimalistic appeal that stands out from the dulled and blurred background.

✤ The artist body language is very laid back conforming to the notion of ‘carefree style’, this relaxed attitude also connotes the sense of a laid back artist making music for the craft itself over money.

✤ The artist is looking wistfully into the camera, this direct mode of address is very effective in catching and maintaining audience attention. The expression also lends the artist to appearing unfocussed, leaving the audience intrigued.

Back Cover

✤ It is often that indie music productions do not have the budget for large scale sets or

expensive studios so the street scene is a conventional location

for an indie music video/photoshoot.

✤ The urban environment helps to ground the artist as authentic, working for his fame and by

placing him in an urban environment he is instantly more

relatable to the audience.

✤ The back of the album features a gritty, stone wall with the artist walking off shot. The grittiness of the street wall conveys the

raw authenticity of the artist in the sense that he has not got the budget for big, studio produced album artwork and perhaps isn't actually interested in creating a

flashy product which is conventional of the indie genre.