Pirchfork: The Worst Album Covers of 2010 (Pretty funny)
 

The Worst Album Covers of 2010

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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.

http://cdn.pitchfork.com/media/00-ed...2010-front.jpg
Ed Kowalczyk reenacts the making of Alive.

http://cdn.pitchfork.com/media/Prince_20Ten.jpg

Screen grab from Grand Theft Auto: Paisley Park.

http://cdn.pitchfork.com/media/Bryan_Ferry_Olympia.jpg

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

http://cdn.pitchfork.com/media/yeasayer___.jpg

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

http://cdn.pitchfork.com/media/CocoR...ns_300_3x3.jpg

Sorority hazing at Hampshire College is no fucking joke.

http://cdn.pitchfork.com/media/comearoundsundown634.jpg

Kings of Leon go chillwave, dick jokes ensue.

http://cdn.pitchfork.com/media/telephantasm.jpg

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

http://cdn.pitchfork.com/media/MAYA.jpg

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


http://cdn.pitchfork.com/media/krs541.jpg

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".


http://cdn.pitchfork.com/media/hyphe...ront-cover.jpg

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

http://cdn.pitchfork.com/media/Ringo-Starr-Y-Not.jpg

Y?!?


http://cdn.pitchfork.com/media/MOD-5...otioncover.JPG

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

http://cdn.pitchfork.com/media/mgmt_congratulations.jpg

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

http://cdn.pitchfork.com/media/jimi_...of_neptune.jpg

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

http://cdn.pitchfork.com/media/folder__.jpg

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

http://cdn.pitchfork.com/media/the-b...t-general3.png

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

http://cdn.pitchfork.com/media/artwo...m-original.jpg

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

http://cdn.pitchfork.com/media/Gin_B..._Choc_Cake.jpg

Loverboy wept.


http://cdn.pitchfork.com/media/sheek...lbum-cover.jpg

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



http://cdn.pitchfork.com/media/09101209942.jpg

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


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Re: Pirchfork: The Worst Album Covers of 2010 (Pretty funny)
 

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

Re: Pirchfork: The Worst Album Covers of 2010 (Pretty funny)
 

Nah, most of these are really bad.

Re: Pirchfork: The Worst Album Covers of 2010 (Pretty funny)
 

The Gin Blossoms are still around? Who knew.

Re: Pirchfork: The Worst Album Covers of 2010 (Pretty funny)
 

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

Re: Pirchfork: The Worst Album Covers of 2010 (Pretty funny)
 

I have no idea what they find so bad about that first one. Very basic, unpretentious, attractive b&w cover.:scratch2:

Re: Pirchfork: The Worst Album Covers of 2010 (Pretty funny)
 

and boring.

I kinda like the Jeff Beck cover.

Re: Pirchfork: The Worst Album Covers of 2010 (Pretty funny)
 

That was my first thought, as well. :lol:

Re: Pirchfork: The Worst Album Covers of 2010 (Pretty funny)
 

Yeah, but these came from Pirchfork.

Re: Pirchfork: The Worst Album Covers of 2010 (Pretty funny)
 

When are you going to post the funny shit?

Re: Pirchfork: The Worst Album Covers of 2010 (Pretty funny)
 

None of these covers match the majest of Ken:

http://peasantswithpitchforks.com/po...quest_only.jpg

Re: Pirchfork: The Worst Album Covers of 2010 (Pretty funny)
 

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.

Re: Pirchfork: The Worst Album Covers of 2010 (Pretty funny)
 

The comment for Ed Kowalczyk's album is great :lol:

Re: Pirchfork: The Worst Album Covers of 2010 (Pretty funny)
 

That Bryan Ferry cover is sweet.

Re: Pirchfork: The Worst Album Covers of 2010 (Pretty funny)
 

Tough crowd here

http://www.laughstub.com/images/come...angerfield.jpg

Re: Pirchfork: The Worst Album Covers of 2010 (Pretty funny)
 

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

Re: Pirchfork: The Worst Album Covers of 2010 (Pretty funny)
 

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.

Re: Pirchfork: The Worst Album Covers of 2010 (Pretty funny)
 

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.

Re: Pirchfork: The Worst Album Covers of 2010 (Pretty funny)
 

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

Re: Pirchfork: The Worst Album Covers of 2010 (Pretty funny)
 

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.

Re: Pirchfork: The Worst Album Covers of 2010 (Pretty funny)
 

Pitchfork not familiar with good music? No! Impossible!

Re: Pirchfork: The Worst Album Covers of 2010 (Pretty funny)
 

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.

Re: Pirchfork: The Worst Album Covers of 2010 (Pretty funny)
 

I thought that was Andre Agassi?

Re: Pirchfork: The Worst Album Covers of 2010 (Pretty funny)
 

What Dire Straits album looks like that?

Re: Pirchfork: The Worst Album Covers of 2010 (Pretty funny)
 

Anthony Ausgang is still around? Who knew.


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