John Foster has deconstructed the design of the music industry through his personal work and his books, Maximum Page Design (HOW), New Masters of Poster Design (Rockport) and the upcoming For Sale: Innovative Solutions in Packaging Design (HOW) as well as a monograph of Sub Pop’s Art Director, Jeff Kleinsmith, slated for publication by the label in 2008.
He will be poking and prodding various albums on a weekly basis so please be sure to keep an eye out!
This week’s victims:
Interpol “Our Love to Admire”
Is it worth listening to no matter what it looks like? If you dig Interpol (and I do) then don’t be shy pardna. They serve up virtually the same pulsing angst (and occasional dodgy lyric – “no I in threesome?” Come on now boys) as before and as we no longer have The Sound or Comsat Angels, someone should be doing this type of music justice. When I don’t hear the words I relish every note.
Credit: “Photography: Seth Smoot, Design: David Calderley@Graphic Therapy
Any signs of creative interference in the design process by the artist? Well… anyone in the music entertainment biz will tell you Interpol’s management are vigilant in portraying the band’s image and controlling their product (and rightly so – do you remember how The Strokes lost all mystery when that guy starting in with Drew Barrymore?)
Does the look fit the sound? It does but this is an odd one. The band had taken a simplistic approach on past releases (marred by an unfortunate choice of font) mimicking constructivist designs of the past and holding to a red, black and grey color palette. I was excited in an odd way to see them branch out a little with a photograph that was evocative and seemingly appropriate and no type what so ever. Upon closer inspection, I realized where the photograph was taken and was deflated to see such a lack of creativity. Giving a photo credit is generous in this case, as the exhibit designer has done all the styling and lighting. To draw a parallel, a photo of the crags in Johnny Cash’s face makes a great image but the one snapping the pic shouldn’t act like they drew them on.
Now that respected London design collective Blue Source (you know their designs for Chemical Brothers and Coldplay) is raising concerns about the band's management contacting them about an appreciation for their work on Kosheen’s album and subsequent photo system for singles and then disappearing - only to see the exact same system arise from another firm that disappointment reached new heights. I have been in the business long enough to see students and major corporations both rip off my well-known designs, and it never ceases to tear at my soul. It hurts in the unethical sense but even more so as a wasted opportunity to do something amazing with the piece. A band, as beloved as Interpol, owes their fans more than that - period.
It is such a pity as Graphic Therapy is an amazing firm and Seth Smoot is a decent photographer (I could give Patrice Hanicotte a hard time about the Kosheen shots as well given his beautiful portfolio.)
This disc is also guilty of a criminal charge in CD design, as you cannot find a tracklisting until you are actually physically inside the booklet. Shame shame.
Final score (out of 10): 4.0 and dipping fast unless we hear a decent explanation as to the “concepting” stage for this package
God loves a cheerful giver.
also, I got this press release yesterday and didn't know what to do with it, but it is about interpol, so lemme just copy and paste it in heres:
INTERPOL TO RELEASE 6-SONG INTERPOL LIVE TO BE SOLD EXCLUSIVELY THROUGH INDEPENDENT MUSIC STORES BEGINNING TODAY
LIVE TRACKS CAPTURE BAND'S POWERFUL PERFORMANCE AT LONDON'S ASTORIA IN JULY 2007
November 27, 2007 - Hollywood, CA - New York City's own Interpol will release INTERPOL LIVE, the band's first-ever official live recordings, today, exclusively through thinkindie.com, which represents the best independent music stores in America. Thinkindie.com services independent music retailers with exclusive and rare items that are not available via major chain and big-box stores. Visit thinkindie.com for a complete list of outlets represented.
The six-song Interpol Live EP features two tracks from the band's gold-certified 2002 debut Turn On the Bright Lights ("Obstacle 1," and "Stella Was a Diver And She Was Always Down") and four tracks from Interpol's current album Our Love To Admire, which debuted at Number Four on Billboard's Top 200 chart - the band's highest debut in the U.S. to date - upon its release by Capitol Records in July 2007. Those tracks are "Pioneer to The Falls," "Mammoth," "Rest My Chemistry," and "The Heinrich Maneuver".
INTERPOL LIVE, which was recorded at the Astoria club in London on July 2nd, 2007, captures the power of Interpol's enigmatic stage show - a spectacle witnessed by hundreds of thousands of fans during the band's recent North American headlining tour, which included sold-out shows at New York City's Madison Square Garden and the Los Angeles Forum.
"I have been in the business long enough to see students and major corporations both rip off my well-known designs, and it never ceases to tear at my soul."
OK Bright Eyes...
FINALLY -- someone said: The Sound. Nice one, sir.
http://trouserpress.com/entry.php?a=sound
I think that is the second time I have been referred to as "bright eyes" in a derogatory way since I have been writing for the site - funny. Certainly I am being dramatic about it but it takes a long time to get noticed in the design business no matter how talented you might be and then once you are to see something you have done ripped off wholesale burns a little and then chafes... and then burns some more.
I am a huge Sound fan and anyone who likes Interpol should check out the recent re-issues of their albums. Much better reference point than Joy Division.
and an interpol live album is as redundant as paying as much as it costs to buy their discography in the used bin to see them stand, stock still, and play their album note for note.
a cover of "swamp thing" would be probably even more of an accurate reference point than the sound. i hear the chameleons more than the sound. poor adrian borland. being compared to that semi-literate ethel merman sound-a-like. how degrading.
You know... I was so tempted to put The Chameleons in here but then I get bogged down in discussing the Edge nicking their guitar sound (although he did it as one guy as opposed to two. Everyone should own Strange Days with the bonus disc and their whole catalog is outrageously good if you like your post rock dark. The ties are tight as Mark Burgess from the Chameleons played on Borland's disc and sang his songs in his place with the band after Borland's suicide. For those interested get All Fall Down by The Sound if you want to hear the Interpol vibe and then get Lions Mouth which is their best over all disc.
Almost forgot but the suicide theme caught me. Coinciding with his Corcoran exhibition I will be reviewing Blake's work on Beck's Sea Change next week.
The Chameleons. Yes, indeed - just wonderful. "Lion's Mouth" can't recommend any higher. (Sad all this has to come in an Interpol thread...)
I think that's undoubtedly true!
This cover is quite simply a toss, and a predictable reaction to the decline of the importance of album art by the last batch of designers riding this particular gravy train.
This is a sad commentary on musical commercialism and graphic insensitivity than it is to the decline of album art.
Every aspect of this design needs tobe placeed under scrutiny especially now that we know the real source, Blue Source.
By designing a Coldplay album you will be given a portfolio piece that will get you more work whether it's good work
or not.
Perhaps its the state of the music industry that now designers are desperate for stardom that they would go so far as blantly copy. Cover art will not survive with this kind of activity encouraged by labels and bands who crave a visual expression.
But as far as the major labels are concerned,if they could avoid spending the extra money for proper sleeve design they seem to careless.
This is a huge embarrassment shame.
Clearly more then just a Coincidence? SEE FOR YOURSELF!!
http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/page/news/47174-interpol-kosheen-artwork-more-than-coincidence
In the end it is a mass of disappointment on all parts but to be honest I think both firms should be on notice for lack of creativity in that the only one who did any work at all was the exhibit designer at the museum - the photographer/band/design firm/label/etc... all rode piggy back on that work and gave it no credit whhat so ever.
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