Analysis of Album Cover 2

Name of Album - Empire
Artist/Director - Kasabian

For the ‘Empire by Kasabian’ the genre of this cd cover is rock. This told by having the concept type front cover, by having artwork not the band on the front cover of the album. Also because you do have a murder scene on the front of the cover, this tells us that this is an adult music, and reflects on the genre of rock, giving of adult message. The use of artwork and not in bright colours reflects on the genre of pop.

By not having the artist is not on the front cover, this shows that the band is well known. So due to that the public will notice the name of the band, this shows that the band does not need to be displayed on the front cover. This therefore tells us that this album belongs to a different type of genre than your typical pop album with the artist on the front cover by doing this.

The title of the album is big, bold and black which standing out to the buyer, so the buyer will recognise the artist and buy the album. Also with the use of black shows us that this is a serious rock album. The title is also parallel which tells us that the band is normal and could also be mature and older. Also the title is positioned in the centre of the album therefore this catches our attention straight away. White lining is used on the title to make the title stand out from the artwork. The title is also positioned above the artwork therefore due to that you can see more of this, this shows that seeing the name of the artist is the important part of the album. The name ‘Empire’ album name reflects on the artwork on the front cover of the link between a king and his empire.

The main image of the album is based on the king of clubs, king with his wife dead and when turned upside down the king with his wife alive. This could reflect on the message of a ‘good king, bad king’ showing a opposite situation and how that has effected that person (what they have gained or lost), therefore showing the good and the bad. A relationship is shown by using a male and female on the cover. This relationship shows how one could have been sweet and well which ends well, with the other when a relationship is bad and turns bad Also with the use of the female being naked this also reflects on sex. Also by having the artwork ‘k’ for king on a card on the album, this reflects on the name Kasabian due to both begin with k. The artwork is from a front view so we look straight at the artwork and nothing else. The moods due to having a murder on the album suggested are, depending which way you look at the album, bad king unhappiness and anger, good king happy, reflecting on the good & bad in life. Also using a light background this creates contrast to the artwork so we focus more on the artwork.

The target audience I think for this album would be male due to that it is focusing on a male figure ‘a king’ and that it is the genre of rock which typically aims at males. I also think this album is aimed at an older audience due to the use of an adult situation and message being portrayed, therefore showing maturity.