Attempting to make an obvious concept have deeper connotations (Research):

In an attempt for my design to have connotations that are deeper than the initial aesthics, I am researching such projects to gain help an insight into how it can be done successfully.

K1X DCAC MK4 BY PATRICK MOHR 2013 FALL/WINTER COLLECTION

"After releasing the Mk3 at Pool Munich last year,Designer Patrick Mohr and K1X are with the slick Mk4 collaboration. This latest version is made of high-end suede leather and will be available this December in three new color ways – red, orange and yellow. With improvements compared to older versions such as the workmanship of it’s collar padding, overall embossing and heel-strap magnet.

 The K1X DCAC by Patrick Mohr is a unisex sneaker that can be modified to a variety of different looks via two detachable accessories that can be worn as a wrist band or around the neck.

 This latest collection by Patrick Mohr for K1X is available now at select stockists."

Patrick Mohr's advertising campaign consists of his very expensive new range of footware, being modelled by the homeless. This is a very shocking way of advertising something which will be aimed at the highest end of the fashion market, and items in this price range are familiarly modelled on what society considers: Healthy, beautiful and prosperous people, in adverse to people stricken with poverty.

I see this way of advertising as one that juxtaposes it's self in a way that it grabs the audience's eye and contradicts the principles that companies of this prestige, and with that specific client base would normally aim for.

This of 'misadvertising' is very interesting to me, and finding new, eye-catching, pioneering ways ways to showcase one's work is something that I an fascinated with and would love to consider plenty in my future designs and potentially even career.

"23 Rock/Metal Album Covers That Will Stun You"

"23 Rock/Metal Album Covers That Will Stun You"

http://www.tooft.com/23-rock-metal-album-covers/

"This article are different than our other articles.This Article don’t have connections with photoshop and computing design.All these album covers are old and they are made by some artist,not by photoshop designers.I hope you will love this article cause this is something new,somthing that you never seen before.Enjoy in this article and share it with your friends!"

Previous Black Sabbath Album covers:

"The album cover features a depiction of Mapledurham Watermill, situated on the River Thames in Oxfordshire, England. Standing in front of the watermill is a figure dressed in black. The name of the woman pictured on the front cover is forgotten, though guitarist Iommi says that she once showed up backstage at a Black Sabbath show and introduced herself. On the original release, the inner gatefold sleeve featured an inverted cross with a poem written inside of it. Allegedly, the band were upset when they discovered this, as it fueled allegations that they were Satanists or Occultists; however, in Osbourne's recent biography, I Am Ozzy, he says that to the best of his knowledge nobody was upset with the inclusion. The album was not packaged with a gate-fold cover in the US."

The above design uses simply typography and the band's logo to indicate that this is their album cover.
It involves the title of the band and the title of the album.
The contrast of red and black is a very strong one, with deep routed connotations attached to it, ones of heavy music, sadism and anarchy in my opinion.

This design to the left is a very shocking and strange one, it depicts some kind of Satanical child, complete with green eyes, yellow teeth and claws and horns. Very disturbing indeed.
The cover uses a blue backdrop, where the baby seems to be made up of gradient layers.

This piece is unlike the band's other designs in the way that it doesn't massively represent their genre of music.
The statues in the image look rather artsy and conceptual, and the typography isn't specifically heavy or rock like, like usually found.

This Black Sabbath album is their most famous cover, it shows a monochromatic photograph of the band members.
This album cover is very rock like, and band photos are commonly executed like this in the modern day.
Again, their famous font and logo is found on this page, in it's thick gothic, uppercase style.

Evaluation

Secret 7 winning entries research:

I have found images of previous Secret 7" winning entries to give me an idea of what types of the work the judges go for, or what seems to be 'trendy' at the secret 7" exhibition.

Primary research into vinyl covers - Jumbo records:

Knowing that my next brief was going to be for the secret 7" competition entry, I took it upon my self to visit Jumbo records, a record shop in the town center. I felt it would be beneficial to get an insight into vinyl record sleeves as it would be something I would be creating.

The vinyl record to the left is an album which makes use of figurative design, in the form of the artist's face in the foreground and the logo and typography in the central section.This vinyl sets a tone and the connotations attached to the person's Reggae style hat, brandishing the Jamaican flag shows that this is a Reggae album.


The album containing the smoking barrels to the left is representational and inspired by the title of the album, the designer has simply illustrated two barrels which are smoking as a simple way to create concept art for a piece.



The 'Eek a Mouse' album makes use of a great deal of typography as a way to express the tone and genre of the album.
It is a very vibrant piece of design, and I can see why vinyl fans would love a collection of well designed, bright pieces of vinyl.


Adele's album, 19, uses simple but elegant photography to show what the album contains, her genre being popular soul means that her vinyl cover must be accessible art, to appeal to her wide range of fans, and people who would be interested in buying her music for the first time.


The famous Jimi Hendrix album to the right shows use of artist arrangement in the way that the designer chose the 
composition of the figures in the vinyl to set a mood and indicate the genre of this album. Famously, it is very outlandish as Jimi Hendrix was a trend setter. This album uses surreal, stylised work to show something that's non human and interesting.

Single's research: T rex - Get it on

"If ever we need cheering up we reach for this song! Released in 1971 it spent weeks at #1 and went on to sell millions around the world. It’s taken from the album Electric Warrior which has one of our all time favourite artworks done by Hipgnosis, a design group that featured the late great Storm Thorgerson."

"T. Rex were a British rock band, formed in 1967 by singer-songwriter and guitarist Marc Bolan. The band formed as Tyrannosaurus Rex, releasing four underground folk albums under the name."

Lyrics:

"Well you're dirty and sweet Clad in black Don't look back And I love you You're dirty and sweet oh yea 

Well you're slim and you're weak You got the teeth Of the Hydra upon you You're dirty sweet And you're my girl 

Get It On Bang a gong Get It On

 You're built like a car You got a hubcap Diamond star halo You're built like a car Oh yeah 

You're an untamed youth That's the truth With your cloak full of eagles You're dirty sweet And you're my girl 

Well you're windy and wild You got the blues I'm your shoes and your stockings You're windy and wild Oh yeah 

You're built like a car You got a hubcap Diamond star halo You're dirty sweet And you're my girl"

The lyrics part of this song all revolve around T Rex describing a person who is then revealed to be 'his girl', so his partner. He is describing various things about this person's attire, which gives room for lots of design inspiration. The descriptions are relatively the only components of this song.

Tone, instrumental and backing track:

This song is famous for it's tone and mood, and very well know, the backing track which comes across as slightly jazzy with obvious hints of rock, I can see why this song became as popular as it did as it mixes two opposing genres together very well.

Evaluation

This song at first glance doesn't have masses of places to take in depth design inspiration, it is clear cut and as I said in the lyrical analysis part, it revolves just around a person's looks being described. 

Single's research: Roxy music - Virginia Plain

"The first of our two glam rock anthems and an all time favourite of ours! Virginia Plain was the first single the band released back in 1972. Although it didn’t originally feature on their debut album Roxy Music, later pressings did include it. Do have a read of the lyrics, they are brilliantly bonkers."

"Roxy Music are an English art rock band formed in 1971 by Bryan Ferry, who became the group's lead vocalist and chief songwriter, and bassist Graham Simpson. The other members are Phil Manzanera, Andy Mackay and Paul Thompson."

Lyrics:

"Make me a deal and make it straight All signed and sealed, i´ll take it To robert e. lee i´ll show it I hope and pray he don´t blow it ´cause We´ve been around a long time just try try try tryin´ to Make the big time... Take me on a roller coaster Take me for an airplane ride Take me for a six days wonder but don´t you Don´t you throw my pride aside besides What´s real and make believe Baby jane´s in acapulco we are flyin´ down to rio

 Throw me a line i´m sinking fast Clutching at straws can´t make it Havana sound we´re trying hard edge the hipster jiving Last picture shows down the drive-in You´re so sheer you´re so chic Teenage rebel of the week Flavours of the mountain steamline Midnight blue casino floors Dance the cha-cha through till sunrise Open up exclusive doors oh wow! Just like flamingos look the same So me and you, just we two got to search for something new Far beyond the pale horizon Some place near the desert strand Where my studebaker takes me That´s where i´ll make my stand but wait Can´t you see that holzer mane? What´s her name virginia plain"

The lyrics of the song don't really add up to form anything, it seems as if they are just individual sentences which eventually conclude with the answer that apparently has been being searched for.

Tone, instrumental and backing track:

The voices of the vocalists in this track sound silly, and in relation to the lyrics, it sounds as if they are rambling odd sentences to no avail.

The backing track and progression of the music works well with the bizarre words that Roxy Music are saying, and the track feels like it has an element of 'swing' music to it.

Evaluation

I do not like the lyrics of this song or the tone to the music, I feel it is silly and the artists' lyrics don't achieve anything.

The iconography behind the words spoken wouldn't have any context in my opinion, therefore I wouldn't know where to go when designing art work for this track. 

I look forward to seeing the route that my peers go when creating work for this track, but I wouldn't like to.

Single's research: Massive attack - Karmacoma

"It’s a huge honour for us to work with Massive Attack, a band who visual output has been as important to us as their music. Karmacoma was a single from their second album Protection released in 1995."

"Massive Attack is an English musical group from Bristol consisting of Robert "3D" Del Naja and Grant "Daddy G" Marshall, formed in 1988. The duo are considered to be progenitors of the trip hop genre."

Lyrics:

Tricky 

You sure you want to be with me I've nothing to give Won't lie and say this lovin's best Leave us in emotional peace Take a walk, taste the rest No, take a rest 

3D 

I see you digging a hole in your neighborhood You're crazy but you're lazy No need to live in a lean-to Your troubles must be seen to seen to Money like it's paper with faces i remember I drink on a daily basis Though it seldom cools my temper It never cools my temper 

Tricky Walking through the suburbs though not exactly lovers You're a couple, 'specially when your body's doubled Duplicate, then you wait for the next kuwait 

(both)

 Karmacoma, jamaica' aroma (x4)

 3D 

You sure you want to be with me i've nothing to give Take a walk take a rest taste the rest Take a walk take a rest taste the rest Take a walk take a rest a taste of rest 

Tricky 

Don't want to be on top of your list Phenomenally and properly kissed We overcome in sixty seconds With the strength we have to together But for now, emotional ties they stay severed When there's trust there'll be treats And when we funk we'll hear beats 

(both) 

Karmacoma, jamaica' aroma (x4) 3D Deflowering my baby, are you my baby mate I must be crazy, see i'm swazy Digging a hole in your neighborhood You're crazy but you're lazy, must be lazy Tricky Don't wanna on top of your list Monopoly and properly kissed 

3D 

Deflowering my baby, are you my baby mate My baby Deflowering my baby, are you my baby mate I must be crazy, you must be lazy 

(both) Karmacoma, what?, jamaica aroma (x4)"

The tone of the voices in the song make it so that the lyrics merge into one, and it's more of a feeling/backing that, than something in which is vocally strong. 

The song has various levels which it manages to put the listener on, and it appears if there is a story to be told, when listening. 

In the lyrics there are lots of different mental imagery which come to mind, which aren't deciphered when listening to the song alone.

This is the first Time I have heard Massive Attack's music, and in the sense of this song, I'm not particularly impressed. 

Tone, instrumental and backing track:

The tone of the track leaves an open feeling the listener which is intriguing, but I don't feel the lyrics come across by the vocalists, so there is something left to be desired.

It seems as if when the vocalists reach the title/chorus of the track " Karmacoma, jamaica' aroma", the backing track changes and amplifies into something more, as what the lyrics are describing is a feeling of ' Karmacoma'.

Evaluation

I do not like this song, the backing track or the lyrics involved, for this reason It is far from my first choice as the track which I would like to create a vinyl 7" record sleeve for. 

Single's research: Jake Bugg - Strange creatures

"At age 19 Jake had already released two successful albums. Strange Creatures is some beautiful stripped back bonus material from the recording sessions for his second record Shangri La. Produced by Rick Rubin, the man with the magic touch, at his home in Malibu."

"Jake Bugg is an English musician, singer, and songwriter. His self-titled debut album, largely co-written with songwriter Iain Archer, was released in late 2012 and reached number one on the UK Albums Chart."

Lyrics:

"Oh it’s a cold world But it’s haunting me 

Oh a little ghost of a girl 

She came to me She’s been haunting me 

Strange creatures 

Oh yeah you and I both Strange creatures 

Deep down you and I both 

This man knows it all 

Don’t have a clue about me I’m in a nightmare 

Not a thing can set me free If only…"

The lyrics for Jake Bugg's song, Strange creatures, contain a lot of imagery considering there aren't that many different words, and many of the versus are repeated.

The artist involves lots of literal as well as subjective sentences which evoke mental images in the audience's head's.

In my opinion he uses the term strange creatures when he is infact referring to the brain/consciousness of people, and how feelings or emotions can not be understood plainly. 

Tone, instrumental and backing track:

The tone to Jake Bugg's song follows his other realises as that is his genre of an indie folk style.

Like his other songs, the tone fits with the lyrics, and the way he sings the versus slow, but with loud emotion give the listener time to think about each word he is saying and the connotations attached to the lyrics he has chosen to represent this particular story. 

Evaluation

I feel that this song in general is very emotive and starts on a level of emotiveness which doesn't decline of specifically escalate, for this reason the song is rather simple in a sense, as is all in one individual tone.

The lyrics have connotations which could be construed as obvious or blatant on one hand, or also as subjective and having hidden depth in another.

Single's research: Lorde - Team

"Every year we like to mix established musicians with emerging ones. We were thinking the latter when we first approached Lorde but she raced ahead notching up a #1 single and a critically acclaimed album. Team is taken from that, and will be her next UK single in February."

"Ella Maria Lani Yelich-O'Connor (born 7 November 1996), known by her stage name Lorde is a New Zealand singer-songwriter. Born and raised in Devonport, Auckland, she performed in various singing and drama classes as a child, and at the age of thirteen signed with Universal. Yelich-O'Connor adopted her stage name due to her fascination with "royals and aristocracy", but felt the name Lord was too masculine so added an 'e' to make it more feminine."

Lyrics:

"Wait 'til you’re announced We’ve not yet lost all our graces The hounds will stay in chains Look upon your greatness That you’ll send the call out (Send the call out [15x]) 

Call all the ladies out They’re in their finery A hundred jewels on throats A hundred jewels between teeth Now bring my boys in Their skin in craters like the moon The moon we love like a brother, while he glows through the room 

Dancin' around the lies we tell Dancin' around big eyes as well Even the comatose they don’t dance and tell 

[Chorus] We live in cities you'll never see on screen Not very pretty, but we sure know how to run things Living in ruins of the palace within my dreams And you know, we're on each other's team 

I'm kind of over getting told to throw my hands up in the air, so there So all the cups got broke shards beneath our feet but it wasn’t my fault 

And everyone’s competing for a love they won't receive 'Cause what this palace wants, is release 

[Chorus] We live in cities you'll never see on screen Not very pretty, but we sure know how to run things Living in ruins of the palace within my dreams And you know, we're on each other's team 

I’m kind of over getting told to throw my hands up in the air So there 

I’m kinda older than I was when I revelled without a care So there 

[Chorus] We live in cities you'll never see on screen Not very pretty, but we sure know how to run things Living in ruins of the palace within my dreams And you know, we're on each other's team We're on each other's team And you know, we're on each other's team We're on each other's team And you know, and you know, and you know"

Tone, instrumental and backing track:

The tone to this song seems rather uplifting and rather charty in a similar style to any other female artist in the charts, but Lorde does is differently, in my opinion it appears as if she makes songs to sound charty, but then the lyrics are communicating another message, which almost is trying to show the modern day isn't what it's made out to be in other songs, and not every person has the royalties and riches in their lives. This theory also matches up with the mood and lyrics found in her other song, Royals.

Evaluation

I feel I have found hidden meaning in Lorde and her style of singing and use of lyrics, but I am unsure which angle I would go down if I were to create an album cover for this person. Possibly very feminine and girly, but in my head I don't feel that properly reflects the artists and her aims, but I do think it is how some members of her audience would see her. 

Single's research: Elbow - Grounds for Divorce

"This is a stomper of a single taken from their album The Seldom Seen Kid in 2008; which went on to win the coveted Mercury Music Prize that year. Our track Grounds For Divorce also went on to claim the Ivor Novello award for Best Contemporary Song the following year."

"Elbow are an English alternative rock band consisting of Guy Garvey, Richard Jupp, Craig Potter, Mark Potter, and Pete Turner."

Lyrics

"I've been working on a cocktail called "Grounds For Divorce", whoa Polishing a compass that I hold in my sleeve, whoa Doubt comes in on sticks, but then he kicks like a horse, whoa There's a Chinese cigarette case and the rest you can keep And the rest you can keep 

And the rest you can keep There's a hole in my neighbourhood Down which of late I cannot help but fall There's a hole in my neighbourhood Down which of late I cannot help but fall 

Mondays is for drinking to the seldom seen kid (Ooh, ooh) 

There's this whispering of jokers doing "Flesh by the Pound" To a chorus of supposes from the little town whores There'll be twisted karaoke at the Aniseed Lounge And I'd bring you further roses but it does you no good And it does me no good And it does you no good 

There's a hole in my neighborhood Down which of late I cannot help but fall There's a hole in my neighborhood Down which of late I cannot help but fall There's a hole in my neighborhood Down which of late I cannot help but fall 

Someday we'll be drinking with the seldom seen kid (Ooh, ooh)"

The lyrics of this song are very visual, and the introductory verse contains, 5 different pieces of visually iconography in it's self.

The title of the track could be one for many different designs to be based on, and the lyrics compliment this. 

Tone, instrumental and backing track:

The tone of the song begins with 'Elbow's' intros he starts the song off to a tone which could escalate or decline, and the song does actually escalate into one of more emotion, which reaches the chorus, and then comes to a halt at the end.

Evaluation

This song does have lots of obvious imagery attached to it, and not necessarily any deeper meaning that what is seen on the surface, for this reason, this song doesn't jump out to me as one that i'd like to design an vinyl sleeve for.

Single's research: Black Sabbath - Age of reason

"Secret 7’’s first foray into the dark art of heavy metal! Taken from their 19th studio album released in 2013; the first to feature original members Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler for 35 years. The album topped the charts in over 50 countries."

"Black Sabbath are an English rock band, formed in Birmingham in 1968, by guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler, singer Ozzy Osbourne, and drummer Bill Ward"

Lyrics:

"Do you hear the thunder, raging in the sky? Premonition of a shattered world that's gonna die In the age of reason, how do we survive? The protocols of evil ravage through so many lives So many lives (x2) 

Mystifying silence, talking peace on Earth We should just join for ourselves, not what we're worth Sustainable extinction, a fractured human race A changing revolution disappears without a trace Without a trace (x2) Alright yeah! 

Always felt that there'd be trouble Mass distraction hides the truth Prozac days and sleepless hours Seeds of change that don't bear fruit 

Oh yeah! These times are heavy And you're all alone The battle's over, but the war goes on Politics, religion, love of money too It's what the world was built for But not for me and you, oh yeah!"

As mentioned in a description of the mood of the song, I feel it is very war chant like and as if Ozzy is trying to inform/aggressively educate the audience into some kind of political uprising, in a sense.

The lyrics, unaccompanied by the backing track, or read aloud, seem in a shade, close to that of Michael Jackson's earth song, with the rhetorical questions and repetition.

The song sticks to it's rock roots and quotes drugs, even if they are prescription ones. 

Tone, instrumental and backing track:

With Black Sabbath being a rock band which is prolifically rather heavy and dark, this song start off with rhythmic bangs of a drum which then gets accompanied by a heavier, most complex range of chords from a bass guitar which then ascends into lyrics from the lead vocalist, Ozzy Osbourne.

The song sticks with this heavy, rather distracting Bass guitar through-out which does have a very good rhythm, and is very fitting the informative and opinionated lyrics which Ozzy seems to be shouting.

This single progresses into a louder guitar solo which is free from lyrics and sets quite a 'doomsday' sort of feel to the whole song, which then Ozzy rejoins with his vocals, and sets a new slightly slower and more retrospectical vibe to the entire song, which finally ends with loud guitar chords, which are faster paced and more of a rallying call/war chant. 

Evaluation

This song's genre isn't particularly something that i'd actively listen to, but I do feel I have been enlightened in listening to it, and the lyrics in conjunction with the rock tempo that it has going on set a really strong tone and atmosphere to the audience. 

I do feel that I could create a piece of design representing this single on a cover, but for the time being, i'd like to see the other songs which are available. 

Secret 7" and their requirements:

"We take 7 tracks from 7 of the best-known musicians around and press each one 100 times to 7" vinyl. We then invite creatives from around the world to interpret the tracks in their own style, resulting in a one-of-a-kind sleeve for every 7”. The creatives are made up of famous names through to gems we unearth through artwork submitted to us here on our website."

It is evident how the Secret 7" competition is very fun and light hearted from their website's tone of voice, use of colour and general theme, the fact that the profits go to charity makes this very blatant.

Twitter profile:

I have chosen to visit the Secret 7" twitter page to see if there is any additional information to be found on there.

OUGD406 - Design Practice 1 Briefing + Proposal

I am looking into the first brief in module OUGD406, as I am about to commence starting the project, and the research.

It will benefit me knowing the requirements for this brief as I will know the requirements I have for the final deadlines and what will be needed of me from the interim and final crits.

PROPOSAL:

I see how this project is based around the competition that is Secret 7", I shall initially research the competition it's self and the website, considering existing competition submissions and the requirements they set to their entrants.

I read from the brief that a set group of artist's singles have been chosen for the entrant to pick and design an record sleeve for, I must collect a series of research and also go on my own opinion to choose which single would be most fitting for me to designs a sleeve for. In this case, each song could be researched into, each artist and the lyrics and connotations attached to each individual song as well as the artist and the genre that they are associated with. I can also evaluate the single's music videos to see what tone of voice that evokes and if it gives me any direction in my designs. 

I can then move on to researching successful album cover designers and graphics designers who have occasionally designed for music, and the styles and themes they have chosen to use.

Hopefully after all of the research is complete I shall have an idea of what type of album cover i'd like to create, for which artist and in what style, then I can begin the trial and error process of designing and receiving feedback from my peers and other designers.

I should hopefully be ready for the interim crit on friday and having chosen an artist and single, and have a range of designs which I am happy to develop, and it shall be down to the feedback received in the crit which will give me more direction.

I see how I must create five potential album covers in total, so moving on from creating thirty initial thumbnail designs, I shall select a range of ten of the best and take the pieces to the crit and potentially develop five pieces and submit the best ones which I feel may have a chance, and also be conceptually fitting.