So we're all agreed then. Prince's artwork is shit

The music on the otherhand..

Tom said:

I noticed that about the font as well. In fact, I was just looking at it a couple of days ago and I though, "God, why in the hell would anyone use that font? It's just so outdated."

FlyingCloudPassenger said:

Anal.

FlyingCloudPassenger said:

Obviously this was done on a computer. Therefore, FONT. I don't think Prince is that cheap that he resorted to old-fashioned, rub on, Letra-set typefaces. That's what I think of when I hear the word "typeface".

(-"The Gold Experience"

I actually think this one's one of the last great covers. Not too clear, but descent. The type is professionally chosen, the layout clear and consistent. And the photography really, really good. Almost painted in certain moments, the photos.)


I agree that some of the booklet photos are good. The front cover is still shit - (especially on vinyl)


(-"Old Friends For Sale"
I feel this one's a sabatoge on Prince's side. He gave them a lackluster photo and with very bad design by Parke. It really does feel like Prince's camp intentionally made the album suck in artwork and presentation on purpose to sabatage it's success and appeal.)


It's never a good idea to sabotage your own work. It fires back and makes you look like, well, Prince on the Vault cover.


(-"Symbol-Album 1992"
I love the cover of this one. It's strange and draws you into another world, a Prince futuristic world. I love all the little kids around them, it's whimsical and like somekind of movie. It's great.
I don't know that it was a still of the video. Which came first is not clear, could have been, but at least it kept everything in consistent theme.)


Whimsical, exactly. A whimsical sci-fi movie. What a downhill ride it has been for Prince...

minneapolisgenius said:

ahh, good ol' letraset...

minneapolisgenius said:

No no man. As a designer, I know. I'm not going to argue about fonts or typefaces, just that I like to correct people and show them the right way to refer to...letterforms.

It does not matter if the computer uses fonts, yes that's a file, but in actuality, it's still referred to as as a TYPEFACE when describing the actual design or style of the letterform.

"The Vivaldi TYPEFACE is usually used in wedding invitations and decorative situations. It's better to go with something in a serifed style of letterform rather than a script letterform"

"Hey, do you have all the FONTS for this CD project? I can't print your nasty ass New Power Soul project if you ain't got them there fonts all collected!"

I know the first one sounds snooty but, heck, it's just an example.

I just try to right the wrong in all kinds of things. Why continue the ignorance. Not that you are, no.


Any other pro designers wish to help me out here!






oooo
[This message was edited Thu Mar 20 10:34:07 PST 2003 by FlyingCloudPassenger]

FlyingCloudPassenger said:

Uh, I AM a professional designer. And you DO sound snooty about it. And when I work with people, they say just that, "Do you have all the fonts for this file?" etc.
Of course, you can call each individually designed style a typeface, but almost everyone I work with calls them fonts in general.
I was kidding when I brought up the old style Letra-set thing.

i HATE ONA piano cd. like cmon. the symbol in a flower!! and wots up with the blu eggs the piano pix and the 2 frikkin hard 2 read font! it also looks and feels cheap

emancipation was 2 heap and he went crazy with it. i no he was free but there is no need 2 do all the thingsWB wudn't let u in 1 album. the cd's feel SO cheap and that shade of orange does SO not look gud man

but the exodus album and gold exp. i liked.

MashedPotatoKid said:

Yes, that is really cheesy. It's like he just grabbed a bunch of crap, got some pictures taken of it, and printed it out.

JAMIESTARR said:

I disagree with Symbol Album cover, i really liked that one!
It was a serious spaced out cover and was just silent...and the fake buildings was cool!

My top 3 are:

Around The World In A Day (ummm i like the theme of it all, but the colors coul've blended more instead of lookin so "paint - to - number" lookin..lol. The actual alternate artwork was kinda cooler)

Grafitti Bridge (ummm... actually i did like it, but it didnt feel the music equaled the cover)

Prince (boring)

minneapolisgenius said:

all that, plus the font doesn't go well with the layout. the font used on it would go along with it if it were like...say, if prince went goth or sumfin.

paisleypark4 said:

not at all. sometimes simplicity is the best thing, and the 2nd album cover is just that--sit p in front of a french blueish background, take shirt off and (tank girl voice) p-p-p-pow!! that's actually one of my faves...gotta dig how p's name is done in calligraphy.



heaven-sent helper edit.
[This message was edited Thu Mar 20 14:02:56 PST 2003 by Handclapsfingasnapz]

The titles on One nite alone... live! are barely readable, I'd say that is a quintessential condition under which one chooses a font/typeface. Therefore, I would have done that differently. And what is classical about the first live CD ever to be released by Prince, containing a whole bunch of new, or less known songs? On the other hand, I like the hearts being red.

The artwork for the individual CD's comes across very cheap, once again a font I would not have used.

The booklet is alright, although it's big...
I would have preferred more information, more photographs, it won't be hanging on the wall, anyway.

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

Yeah, that too.

FlyingCloudPassenger said:

From what I gather from font/typface designers is they put alot of care into their work. My apologies for gettin the terminology wrong. Its interesting to know tho!

So the "font" is refering to the file itself, whereas "Typeface" is the name of the particular lettering contained within the "font"?
[This message was edited Thu Mar 20 16:32:17 PST 2003 by Tom]

The Vault and Emancipation

What's most important is the content, whatever the Artwork on the cover, (the music-the message), The Music!!! that is what makes an album cover remembered!

I don't know of anyone buying an album because of the cover ...either you like the person or heard something good about or from it!

I would like to listen to an whole album before I do Artwork for a Album cover (along with prayer to GOD), It would help me with the vision that the musician is trying ex-zude to the public, the visual and the music sweeps you into another world, I noticed that some of you don't like the artwork of Around the world in a day, I do! for this reason it did take you to another place!

like a box of cereal in the morning...while you are eating you may want to read the box.
Just like Movie composers they get to watch the movie as they are creating the music score for it, that helps.

But as far as I know (you only know what you know) Prince has given these artist a list of things to portray, (a vision if you will), to work with that's fine, but I would love to hear the music along with his vision to give double meaning to the artwork!
Prince's cleaver trick of getting you to use your Mind and Think!

1999: The New Master was some cheesy, ugly-ass looking shit.

Anxiety said:

ohhh man, yeah!!! how could anybody forget that???

RiccoTheArtist said:

true ricco, but the cover art is part of the entire trip.

RiccoTheArtist said:

Around The World In A Day is one of my favorite album covers, including the 45s . I think some musicians, perhaps maybe even Prince, find an artist or a graphic designer whos work they're akin to. That would be the next best thing to designing it themselves.

We've had "parke" stuff for over a decade now. While some of it works well with Prince's more playful funk, it looks cheap with Prince's more serious work. I enjoy the fashion illustrations, especially the montage inside of NewPowerSoul. But some of his stuff can be photoshop hell.

P if youre listening, please dont skimp on the photographers...

My vote goes for the Black Album.

For You
Prince
The Black Album
Batman
Graffiti Bridge
Chaos and Disorder
New Power Soul

Moonbeam said:

could u even call that artwork?

Worst:

The Album ... I just friggin' hate that cover.
Of course, the special edition gold packaged one was cool though...

Lovesexy - Probably the worst and the best at the same time.

New Power Soul.

For You - ugly and old looking

Chaos and Disorder - jumbled and off-putting

Emancipation - cheap and cluttered looking. like bad CGI

The Vault - too many clashing colors and just ugly

The Very Best of Prince - they could've at least tried

1999 The New Master -

now there were several other releases that look 'cheap' but I like them anyway.

Stuff like:

Crystal Ball - I liked the simplicity and how it stays with the bootleg theme

New Power Soul - Like the drawings and photos

Rave - the colors, pictures, font and special edition are all appealing

ONA studio - dark and mysterious. simple like the music.

Handclapsfingasnapz said:[quote]

Moonbeam said:

That fro has to go! Also, the front cover of the "Prince" album is pathetic! He looks like he's preening or something- lol.

Moonbeam said:

that 'fro wuz the shitbombdookie, whatchoo talkin 'bout, moonie?


i know, i know...it's the damn hair.

RAVE. the cover art helped ruin whatever chance it had to be successful.





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