An analysis of a Jeff Buckley digipak release.

1. Examining the Conventional Features of a Digipak Package
ANALYSIS OF EXISTING DIGIPAKS

2. JEFF BUCKLEY - DIGIPAK

3. JEFF BUCKLEY – EXTERIOR ANALYSIS
Exterior Panels Analysis:
The imagery on the exterior panels
instantly reflects the identity that
Buckley sought to establish for himself
with the blue-tinted, washed out
pictures granting him an enigmatic
presence, bolstered by the fact that in the left-hand panel he is facing away from the viewer in a medium shot and
the central panel being a close-up of just a hat and a book, giving him the air of a true musical artist, something
which plays into his highly emotional music. This aspect of his image is emphasised by the borders of the images
made to resemble polaroid's and paint brush strokes, evoking a certain nostalgic sensibility. Furthermore, the
colouration of the images gives the pictures and aged appearance, calling back to a bygone era of music inspired
by the likes of Bob Dylan which informs the reader of his style of music, attracting both his loyal fans through
connection to his traditional brand identity and fans of this style of music whose attention may be caught by the
invocation of certain stylistic traits. The white background makes the blue stand out all the more as well as
conveying a certain sense of simplicity reflected in the compositions of his music which are sparse. Buckley
himself is positioned on the album cover, in a long shot with a casual pose yet a serious tone through his body
language (his dour facial expression and crossed arms, conveying his unique style by combining a laid-back
attitude with the intellect of an artist. The sans-serif font spelling his name is coloured to be consistent with the rest
of the panels and again speaks to his deceptively simple style of acoustic music. The Live at Olympia text does
have a unique style that links to the brand associated with the venue, and the presence of Columbia records on
the rear panel provides an institutional link to the artists’ business connections.

4. JEFF BUCKLEY – INTERIOR ANALYSIS
The interior panels again drawn
heavily on Jeff Buckley’s
recognisable artistic style, being
deliberately presented as a humble
artist. His white shirt again recalls
the simple nature of his style,
conveying a sense of humbleness
that allows his audience to relate to
while being simultaneously distanced and fascinated by him as he is does not engage with the viewer with the medium
close-up and extreme close-up focussing on his detached, contemplative facial expression that conveys a sensitivity and
intellect that makes him appealing and fascinating to an audience. Again, the use of borders resembling brush strokes are
used as are the blue-tinted imagery which sustain the brand image established in the exterior panels. Though the exterior
panels referred to convention by having features such as the artist occupying the album cover and a track listing, the
interior’s minimalist approach is less common for digipak releases which traditionally contain promotional materials such as
lyrics sheets or making-of booklets for added value that will compel an audience to buy this “deluxe” version. Here, the lack
of such additions plays into the album and Buckley’s minimalist sensibility, as though he cares more for the art than the
commerce, something that not only inspires respect from his existing audience but also conveys his image effectively to
those not aware of his nature. The CD is positioned centrally, a key feature of the Digipak layout and the way in which the
panels unfold are also quite traditional.

5. JEFF BUCKLEY – ARTIST IDENTITY
The design and style of this digipak are
consistent with Buckley’s pre-existing image – a
humble and sensitive artist. To convey this, the
focus is frequently on just him, adopting the
same vague disengagement with the audience.
The text is often a combination of sans-serif
fonts and handwritten styles which have a self-
penned feel as if he has written them himself,
connecting him to the audience in a unique
fashion. The focus on him alone sells him as a
solo artist and the use of filters and edited
effects reminiscent of old film stock and
photography convey his sense of artistry. This
adherence to his existing image is a clear
motivation force for the fans to purchase this
release over the other, more basic formats,
playing on a sense of loyalty to Buckley by
deliberately targeting his fanbase.

6. GENRE CONVENTIONS
There is no deliberate reference to the genre Buckley fits within, the folk/acoustic
genre yet the imagery clearly recalls the imagery that the genre has become linked to
over time. The sight of Buckley casually existing in a studio environment that is clearly
disorganized and rustic in appearance seems to remove the pretence of perfectionism
and design that surrounds other genres such as pop and rock, showing him as merely
a musician and striving for a realism that the genre frequently aspires to. The use of
white also speaks to this simplicity of craft. Additionally, the use of extreme close-ups
conveys a sense of intimacy familiar to the folk genre, typified by images of solo
artists performing alone on a stage in a Greenwich Village baskethouse.
The digipak is comprised of the traditional structure of six unfolding panels, each with
individual artwork as well as other typical elements such as a track list and
institutional information concerning the record label on the rear panel. There is no art
booklet or extra piece of merchandise however, an unusual omission for this type of
release. The layout is otherwise conventional, with the front panels displaying the
artist and album name and the CD section positioned centrally when unfolded
completely.