ALBUM COVER

Jimi Hendrix, People, Hell and Angels

Although he died in 1970, Jimi Hendrix remains one of rock’s music icons. Designers of the cover art for this posthumous album put the musician in the forefront, using black-and-white photography to give the image a classic feel. The cover art works today because it’s a look back at a historical figure — rock album cover art in the 1960s had a very different look.

ALBUM COVER

Nine Inch Nails, Hesitation Marks

As discussed in the Overview section, this Nine Inch Nails album art adopts a low-key, no-drama approach that’s consistent with the carefully crafted image the band has used since its founding.

ALBUM COVER

Thirty Seconds to Mars, Love Lust Faith + Dreams

Thirty Seconds to Mars meticulously crafts all aspects of their work — songs, music videos, and cover art. In this album art, the colored dots suggest careful ordering, but the principle behind the choice of the specific color for each dot remains a mystery to the viewer. The color and size of the text suggest that it’s low in the hierarchy of elements, but the use of all caps sends the opposite signal. The overall image is one of tension.