Analysis of Album Covers

1. Analysis of Album Covers

2. Katy Perry – One Of The Boys (Front)
Album title – Her name is bigger than the other font on
the cover. This could be because her name is the main way
an audience can link her name to the main image – her
name being the largest font says that she is the most
important. The font used has very girly and feminine
connotations because it is swirly and has small stars and
hearts around it. ‘One of the Boys’ is the album title at the
bottom which subverts from the idea that the rest of the
album is trying to make which is very feminine. The colour
of the album title is blue which connotes masculinity as
does what the title actually says. The album title suggests
that as well as being able to dress up and look pretty she is
just as capable being on of the boys.
Typography – The typography of the font on the album
cover is messy, playful, and looks more like the varied
cursive and print handwriting styles of today. This
adheres to the message that the rest of the cover is
making that the music is also very fun, playful and
would fit into the genre of pop. In terms of typography
femininity is represented as being the main theme.
Main Image – The main image is of the artist whom is
Katy Perry as stated by her name at the top of the
album. Denotations such as the fact that she is dressed
in a typical 50s pinup girl type fashion reflects the music
genre being maybe pop/girly. The camera angle used to
portray her image is a long shot so that the whole of her
outfit is visible. The amount of skin she is showing and
her posture as she bites her sunglasses have very
provocative connotations. Also the fact that she is
looking straight at the camera
Background Images – The background image is far
from plain, it features colourful flowers, a record
player, garden flamingos, a white picket fence and a
sun lounge chair on which Katy Perry is laying on.
Things such as the record player is typical to the 50’s
era which adheres to the style of clothing worn by the
artist too. The white picket fence is seen by some as
a symbol of the ideal American middle-class
suburban life, with a family and children, large
house, and peaceful living. This stems from the fact
that houses in quiet, middle-class neighbourhoods
often have gardens enclosed by picket fences.
Genre – The genre pop can be clearly figured out
from the different connotations that can be
inferred from the denotations. The cover
attempts to target the mainstream young female
audience as they would aspire to be like her. The
pink and other background images such as the
flowers and the clothing Katy Perry is wearing
appeals to a young female audience.

3. Disclosure – Settle (Front)
Main Image – The main image represents the
two brothers G. Lawrence and H. Lawrence
who make up the electronic duo Disclosure.
Under the white faces that have been edited
onto the image the facial expressions seem as
if they are happy and are smiling. The
denotation of the children's posture could be
referring to the attitudes the two boys have at
their current age which many perceive as
being laid back, casual and happy to be where
they are. Also notice that the boys are sharing
a chair as it symbolises the fact that they are
happy settling into the music industry
together as it is their debut studio album.
Genre – The genre of the music can be
described as a combination of electronic beats
and rhythms, most songs including vocals from
an artist independent from the duo themselves.
The fact that the album cover has the imprint of
it being a worn out vinyl sleeve could be the
duo’s way of acknowledging their love for that
era and vinyl tracks. We cant exactly read from
the album cover what the genre of music is but
we can assume it is deep house/electronic
dance music from the digital-like faces drawn
onto the children faces; it has connotations of
being electronic and computerised machines
creating the beats of the music.
Album Title – ‘Settle’ being used as the album title
itself is interesting because one of the many definitions
of the word is to ‘sit or come to rest in a comfortable
position’ which is what the two boys seem to have
done in the main images. Another meaning for the
word settle is ‘a wooden bench with a high back and
arms, typically incorporating a box under the seat’. It
could be argued that this is what the boys are seated
on in the main image. In my opinion the album title and
main image link together masterfully.
Typography – The font of both the name of the duo and
the name of the album is the same. This implies that to
the group both their name and the name of the album is
just as important as each other. Black is the absence of all
light which is the colour that has been chosen for the
name of the group, while white is the presence of every
colour of the rainbow combined in the visible light
spectrum. This suggests that the duo are trying to spread
happiness and hope with this album as white has these
connotation. When looking at the other EP album cover
they released for a song called ‘F For You’ 12” the same
format of typography was used, shown on the right. This
helps fans, new or old, have something to associate the
duo to; so whenever they see
typography like it is used here
they will associate it to
Disclosure.

4. Ariana Grande – Yours Truly (Front)
Album title – ‘Yours Truly’ is the name of the album
and this phrase might imply that you love the recipient.
This may be the case as the artist – Ariana Grande –
may love her fans to whom the album is for but also
when looking closer at the meaning behind many of
the lyrics for the songs on this album it is clear to see
that they are prominently love songs, sung to a
significant other. In British English, "Yours truly" means
“Here I am. I offer my service to you.” which is another
way the album title could be interpreted. Ariana
Grande could be telling her fans that she is there for
them and that she has only got to where she is now
because of them; also that everything she does in the
music industry is to please her fans.
Typography – The typography used for Ariana
Grande's name is very simple but stands out against
the darker background as her name is written in white
and the background is black. Her name is how it is
always written in promotional pieces for this particular
album. The font connotes sophistication and maturity
which is the vibe she would naturally be aiming to
achieve as this would be the first album she has
released where she is trying to get away from the
person is perceived to be because of the popular
children’s show she was involved in. This album is her
way of saying ‘I’ve grown up.’ not only through the
style of music but through the typography used for the
copy on the album cover. The font used for the album
title sticks to the sophisticated theme of the album
cover but is the only copy that is in a light pink colour,
the shade of pink used has connotations of
unconditional love and compassion; pink
stereotypically is a very feminine colour and therefore
helps mirror Ariana Grande’s personality.
Main Image – Ariana Grande’s placement on the
cover indicates that she is the most important
aspect and most if not all attention should be on
her. The lighting is displayed shining on her in a
spotlight fashion, this connotes again that she must
be the centre of attention. When studying her
posture she seems to be almost savouring the light
as if she gains contentment from what she has
achieved from this album. The fact that the whole
cover is in black and white adds sophistication and
a sense of timelessness. In regards to the main
image overall, it is very simplistic and effective as it
puts across the style of the music well.
Genre – The genre of the album is pop/R&B and
the album cover portrays this by the black and
white filter. Everything on the album cover
combined such as the album title, the colour
scheme, the clothes and the artist herself appeals
to a young female audience. The tracks on the
album mostly being love songs again appeals to a
female audience.