I'm not one whose advice really counts . . . but I like the consistency of Beth Orton's albums. Photos of Beth on the cover . . . of course they're getting a bit blurrier as the years go on. Luna really has some great covers; Pup Tent, Penthouse and the Days of Our Nights are the best . . . of course the Romantic cover says to me, it says "Todd, do you like Pina Colada's? Getting caught in the rain . . ."

I like the warmth of Neil Halstead's "Sleeping On Roads" so orange and inviting . . . it says "take a load off and have a drink in the easy chair . . . while you're at it, play me".

Air, Moon Safari.

The Strokes, Is This It (the UK cover)

Flaming Lips, The Soft Bulletin as well as Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots.

I have another confession to make. As a teenager I loved Iron Maiden. So as a true Maiden fan I just drooled over their covers, don't worry I don't like them any more, I finally grew out of it. But the style was quite cool when I was mad at the world. I wasn't really mad, I was just too lazy.

Nowadays, some of my favorite covers are: this one from Live and this one from pearl jam. I'll just mention those, otherwise I will never get back to work.

No no no, that's the worst Pearl Jam album ever.

we're talking covers, not music kippy.

Dude, I like to write kippy. You picked a hell of a name.

I believe the cover for the album "Sweet Release" by Canadian band "The Flashing Lights" takes the ultimate prize.

Please go here (http://www.maplemusic.com/artists/thf/disc.asp) to view.

great recent, not so recent and upcoming cd covers
(that will probably look even nicer on vinyl, granted)

Trust by Low

They Threw Us In A Trench And Stuck a Monument on Top by The Liars

Finally We Are No One by M�m

Live At Centre Pompidou by Console (the type is not printed but embossed)

Your Love Means Everything by Faultline

About a boy (o.s.t.) by Badly Drawn Boy
(Not the one that looks like the Movie Poster.)

Isn't it weird how one can actually find great, really great music, just by looking at the cd covers? and i don't mean that the music i like always have the best cd covers..., but sometimes you just know: "this looks (ugly, okay, but) promising". and Lotto!)

Kai, those are great. Funny, a good friend of mine did the type of the Badly Drawn Boy cover you like and was disgusted when the company insisted on the other. I've done 3 packages for Low, nice to see them on your list too.

Tom,

you should also listen to them, they sound as good as they look, and sometimes even better.

k

I'll agree, they are good . . . and they also make some really interesting videos. Well the ones from "Hour Of Bewilderbeast" were good. Another Pearl was especially funny.

My favorite (fairly) recent album covers:

-Shellac 'at Action Park', it's relief printed and is a wonderfully tactile cover.

-Tortoise 'self titled'

-Big Black 'Songs about f***ing', very simple and very effective, love the red on green.

-Slint 'Untitled', Purely photograhic cover, but captures the mood of the music really well. Even better in vinyl cuz it's biiiig

-AntiPop consortium 'Tragic epilogue'

-Kid koala 'Some of my best friends are DJs'

-Aphex Twin 'Windowlicker'

There plenty more but this'll do.

Btw, black flag get an honorable mention for having the coolest band logo ever designed.

A few of my favorite classics are:

Blind Faith

Elvis Collection Nice use of bold, large type.

Elvis "That's the Way it is" (great use of color, great packaging)

Eric Clapton 461 Ocean Boulevard I love the look and feel of the type and photo.

Herb Alpert A little diry, but the color and type are just beautiful.

Furry Lewis Again, big bold type, along with a great photo.