The Worst Album Covers of 2010

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

by Ian Cohen, posted December 6, 2010

There are album covers that are illuminating works in their own right, covers that reveal hidden depths to the music inside, and covers that advance the state of the graphic designer's art. And then there are these. Our annual tradition highlighting the worst cover art of the year-- goofy, offensive, amateurish, and puzzling, it's all here-- continues with the dregs of 2010. Not safe for people at work or those prone to nausea.


Ed Kowalczyk reenacts the making of Alive.



Screen grab from Grand Theft Auto: Paisley Park.



The iTunes version sadly doesn't come with the perfume samples.



This was the last time Union Carbide sponsored an episode of "You Can't Do That on Television".



Sorority hazing at Hampshire College is no fucking joke.



Kings of Leon go chillwave, dick jokes ensue.



The music is a reminder Soundgarden had a rich, diverse career; the artwork a reminder they made the "Black Hole Sun" video



A garish, unintentionally hilarious attempt to present herself as some sort of subversive political firebrand. Oh, and the cover's lame as hell too.




A collection that documents a brilliant artist's lifetime of creativity gets an album cover that was conceived and executed in less time it takes to listen to "Amity".




Not only did Dan Gilbert lose LeBron, but he somehow lost the 2010 award for "Worst Use of Comic Sans." Tough year.



Y?!?




What percentage of guitar hero album covers can be confused for satirical commentary about U.S. military policy? 100%.



With the power of Blast Processing, MGMT do what Nintendon't.



The ghost of Jimi asked for one millllllllllllion dollars, but clearly the Hendrix estate was willing to settle for less



2010 will be remembered as the year the Na'vi discovered dubstep.



Gonna stop short of calling this an abortion of a cover.



Even with all the fame and fortune, Teddy Ruxpin was tormented by his bizarre sexual preferences.



Loverboy wept.




Dr. Zaius is runnin' this rap shit, Cornelius is runnin' this rap shit...





If your album cover looks like it was inspired by a Pharrell lyric, you will be on this list.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It's funny, because all of the year's worst reviews came from Pitchfork.

Nah, most of these are really bad.

The Gin Blossoms are still around? Who knew.

I don't know about the album covers, but those are definitely the most unfunny captions of 2010.

I have no idea what they find so bad about that first one. Very basic, unpretentious, attractive b&w cover.

and boring.

I kinda like the Jeff Beck cover.

That was my first thought, as well.

Yeah, but these came from Pirchfork.

When are you going to post the funny shit?

None of these covers match the majest of Ken:

Those are pretty bad, but the commentary is worse.

CocoRosie is odd. I haven't decided yet if I like them or not, but I continue to listen.

The comment for Ed Kowalczyk's album is great

That Bryan Ferry cover is sweet.

Tough crowd here

That's a matter of opinion. One person's "boring" is another's "uncluttered and clean".

Yeah, you could slap it on a classic Roxy Music album and it'd look fine.

And I like the MGMT one, which has a sort of Dire Straits vibe.

I thought they were funny....


but I hadn't yet seen the Soundgarden cover. I can't believe they came up with that. In 2010.

That MGMT cover looks like it was made for a Lisa Frank Trapper Keeper.

Yeah, I was going to say that anyone that has a problem with the Ferry cover obviously is not familiar with the Roxy album covers, which are clearly what he is trying to pay homage to.

Pitchfork not familiar with good music? No! Impossible!

I have a major problem with the one at the top of the list.

How anyone can ever make fun of the man that gave us Secret Samadhi is beyond me.

I thought that was Andre Agassi?

What Dire Straits album looks like that?

Anthony Ausgang is still around? Who knew.


Just kidding. I knew, I just hate being reminded.