Indie Digipack Analysis

1. Digipack Analysis

2. 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 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.
✤ 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.

3. 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 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.
✤ 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.