Music is one of the most adored things in life that keep us entertained. You probably have a favorite genre and a part of the reason you may listen to a specific song or album is usually due to the artist, however, sometimes you may pick a song solely because of the cover art.

These covers are so much more than a piece of packing on your favorite studio album. Covers are a vital space to grab people’s attention and open the doorway into the world of music and its specific aesthetic. These covers can have many styles such as painted, abstract, photographic, retro, minimalist and illustrated, but, no matter what style the cover may be, it always influences the listener and even be the deciding factor on whether they should choose to listen in.

As someone who loves listening to music and is always trying to find the next best thing, I have constructed a list of my top five album covers.

1. Titanic Rising by Weyes Blood (2019): As soon as you see the cover for this album it instantly encapsulates you. Seeing Weyes float in a room filled with water, with the blue and creamy white hues reflecting from the water, you can’t help but get a sense of dreamy feel. This dreamy feeling is exactly how the album sounds. The photo is captured beautifully by Brett Stanly.
2. Who Really Cares by TV Girl (2016): The cover is a photo of a man hugging a woman, both shown in contrasting colors. The man in a monotone blue and the woman in hot pink. The people interacting brings you in into wondering, “What is their story?”. The picture has a whimsy mood to it almost as if these people are living in a fever dream, which perfectly encases the album’s sound. The photograph taken by George M. Hester, although it is slightly altered to fit TV girl’s vibe.
3. Dizzy Up the Girl by The Goo Goo Dolls (1998): Seeing a girl laying face down on a bed starting at the camera in a room with rose printed wallpaper and a blue hue shinning up at her immediately grabs your attention. The girl looking almost doll-like gives a peaceful yet edgy ambiance. The music in the album is exactly both of these.
4. Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness by The Smashing Pumpkins (1995): The artwork of this cover shows a woman floating upon a star. The background behind it displays different planets and a shooting star in the distance. The Victorian art style of the artwork truly captivates you with the woman being quite mysterious and abstract. The artwork was done by John Craig.
5. Between thee Stars by Flyleaf (2014): Taking the first glance at the cover it shows a body of a woman with a bouquet of flowers for a head. The woman props herself to sit on an aqua colored tile textured with waves. This album may be perceived as growth as well as taking the best from the past, leading you to develop a new perception. In summary, the cover helps you visualize the story of growth.