The graphic design of Seeds We Sow

[PenguinHead]

Though the general design isn't bad, there is something that really bothers me. The shade of red chosen for the titles is so wrong. It's too garishly bright, making it hard to read, especially the song titles on the backside.

Also, the odd placement of the album title on the front cover is really bad. It's very amaturish, and again, hard to read. There is absolutely no impact to it.

On the good side, I like how the lyrics are presented. I'm a big stickler when it comes to lyric layout. The staggered placement of the verses is graphically interesting and makes it easy to read.

Also, a big hurray for keeping it simple. For example, the song Seeds We Sow; he rightfully omitted "tat tat tat." That's an inflection -- not a lyric! The same goes for an "Ahh," "Ohh," or any vocal that isn't a word. And don't get me started about eplipses.................

I can understand how that would be important if someone is performing the song and wants to recreate the original vocal rendering. But otherwise, purely to read the lyrics, it's completely unneccesary, as is repeating the same chorus or verse several times over. Stevie's presented lyrics are horrible. I want to strangle the graphic designer who layed out the lyrics for her latest album, but that's another story.

I know most people may not understand, be aware, or even give a **** about these things. I guess that because of my profession, I'm more sensitive to how poorly and inconsistent these things are to my eyes. Believe me, it could be much better in more competent hands.

[lbfan]

I'm not in the business, but I agree with you 100 percent.

[mylittledemon]

He'd have been better off using white letters instead of the red-- I agree that it's hard to see. The red works really well on all black (like on SYW) though

[WildHearted]

The design for the cover is absolutely horrible.

I was about to say it looks like he got Will to do it... but I think a 13 year old computer-savy boy probably could have done a better job.

[Lee]

I commented on the pics on another thread. And here I thought that it was just me having a time reading the songs in red on the back cover. Yeah, I don't like the pics on the covers of the booklet, & I don't like the blurry pics inside. I pretty much agree about what everyone said about the design.

Lee :(

[mylittledemon]

Doesn't it say in the liner notes who designed the cover/art? :sorry: as I haven't bought a copy yet. :distress:

[bangdrum]

Liner notes say:

CREATIVE
Art Direction: Jeri Heiden for SMOG Design Inc.
Design: Nick Steinhardt for SMOG Design Inc.
Photography: Jeremy Cowart

SMOG Design is also responsible for GOS, which explains why I thought the liner notes looked like GOS.

I like the inside picture of Lindsey with the Carruthers guitar. The others, not so much.

[mylittledemon]

Yeah that's odd.. considering they have done some decent album covers:

http://smogdesign.com/

Also we're forgetting that Lindsey and camp had to approve it... so in the end it's Lindsey's fault ;)

[WildHearted]

A professional design company seriously did that?

What on earth. I cannot even comprehend that.

Looking at the stuff on their front page.. it's not even in a comparable realm to Lindsey's album cover.

Lindsey's cover looks like a 12 year old wanted cool writing on their myspace profile picture, so they opened up Microsoft Paint and had at it..

[bangdrum]

Think it's significant that SWS, despite being a "new" product, isn't in their display of current work? :distress:

[mylittledemon]

Probably just haven't updated the website. I get the feeling that the album cover was thrown together as one of the quicker designs... like they were just checking to see what fonts worked and Lindsey might've gone... hey let's go with this one! :laugh: Meanwhile the "art direction" guys are going... no this is just a prelim Lindsey... *insert faces looking at Buckingham with scrunched noses*

[CADreaming]

I think Lindsey is pretty heavy handed in the overall creative vision of every project he is involved in. So...

[BTFLCHLD]

I challenge YOU to design the sleeve, front and back, and display here for our review.

(where is truefaith? hehe)

[WildHearted]

I challenge YOU to design the sleeve, front and back, and display here for our review.

(where is truefaith? hehe)

Challenge accepted.

Do we have to use the same picture?

[BTFLCHLD]

Challenge accepted.

Do we have to use the same picture?

well, for comparison purposes between their design and yours, the same photographs should be utilized. however, as a second submission, you are certainly welcome to choose from recent photo sessions that have been utilized for purposes of SWS promotion.

[michelej1]

Probably just haven't updated the website. I get the feeling that the album cover was thrown together as one of the quicker designs...

But why would it be? Lindsey has known about this album for months now and they worked for him before, so they should have had a heads up that this project was coming.

Michele

[WildHearted]

I couldn't find the actual album cove picture (without writing).. I probably didn't look hard enough. So I just picked the most similar one. Just imagine that pose instead of this one, I guess. Or if someone can provide me with the original picture then I'll open it back up and use that one instead.

I'm by no means a professional or semi-professional graphic designer at all. I'm just a regular person with photoshop. So with that in mind..

http://i.imgur.com/YDpXG.png

http://i.imgur.com/6LMVQ.png

Just something you can actually read.

[michelej1]

^Wow, your bottom one looks really good.

Lindsey should be hiring you right now.

Michele

[kenzo]

A professional design company seriously did that?

What on earth. I cannot even comprehend that.

Looking at the stuff on their front page.. it's not even in a comparable realm to Lindsey's album cover.

Lindsey's cover looks like a 12 year old wanted cool writing on their myspace profile picture, so they opened up Microsoft Paint and had at it..

I challenge YOU to design the sleeve, front and back, and display here for our review.

(where is truefaith? hehe)

For my fellow Ledgies' amusement - if anyone wants to see amateur artwork, here's a link to the artwork for our first CD:
Wonderfuzzy - CD artwork package for Sack Of Badgers (https://picasaweb.google.com/khilts/WonderfuzzySackOfBadgersCDArtwork?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCKbW3OmHpNaniAE&feat=directlink)

[mezzoforte]

^Very impressive, WildHearted. Both look far more professional than the album artwork.

[Nico]

Wildhearted, both of your covers are far better than Lindsey's. Excellent job.

[Blueletter18]

^Wow, your bottom one looks really good.

Lindsey should be hiring you right now.

Michele

Yeah, I love that one! Nice job!

[Peestie]

For my fellow Ledgies' amusement - if anyone wants to see amateur artwork, here's a link to the artwork for our first CD:
Wonderfuzzy - CD artwork package for Sack Of Badgers (https://picasaweb.google.com/khilts/WonderfuzzySackOfBadgersCDArtwork?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCKbW3OmHpNaniAE&feat=directlink)

"Mastered to a lower volume"! That notice should be on more albums released these days. Lindsey's new CD should have had it, especially considering how in one of the recent interviews he was making snide comments about too much compression and then he release WSCD - one of the most compressed choruses I've ever heard.

[kenzo]

"Mastered to a lower volume"! That notice should be on more albums released these days. Lindsey's new CD should have had it, especially considering how in one of the recent interviews he was making snide comments about too much compression and then he release WSCD - one of the most compressed choruses I've ever heard.

Yes, we did use a bit of mastering compression, but tried to keep the end result at least somewhat musical.

[wheart]

Though the general design isn't bad, there is something that really bothers me. The shade of red chosen for the titles is so wrong. It's too garishly bright, making it hard to read, especially the song titles on the backside.

Also, the odd placement of the album title on the front cover is really bad. It's very amaturish, and again, hard to read. There is absolutely no impact to it.

On the good side, I like how the lyrics are presented. I'm a big stickler when it comes to lyric layout. The staggered placement of the verses is graphically interesting and makes it easy to read.

Also, a big hurray for keeping it simple. For example, the song Seeds We Sow; he rightfully omitted "tat tat tat." That's an inflection -- not a lyric! The same goes for an "Ahh," "Ohh," or any vocal that isn't a word. And don't get me started about eplipses.................

I can understand how that would be important if someone is performing the song and wants to recreate the original vocal rendering. But otherwise, purely to read the lyrics, it's completely unneccesary, as is repeating the same chorus or verse several times over. Stevie's presented lyrics are horrible. I want to strangle the graphic designer who layed out the lyrics for her latest album, but that's another story.

I know most people may not understand, be aware, or even give a **** about these things. I guess that because of my profession, I'm more sensitive to how poorly and inconsistent these things are to my eyes. Believe me, it could be much better in more competent hands.


I appreciate this thread! I've always felt very strongly about album covers/graphics and that they are almost as important as the music, at least in my eyes. I just picked up SWS yesterday. I agree with you on the cover. It's boring and the graphics are terrible. I really felt it was time to get a little more adventurous with this cover and change things up from the last two. Lindsey's music is unique, compelling, intriguing, contemplative. I don't think this cover properly represents Lindsey, the artist or the content of this record. Most of the shots in the booklet would have made far better covers.

[wheart]

I couldn't find the actual album cove picture (without writing).. I probably didn't look hard enough. So I just picked the most similar one. Just imagine that pose instead of this one, I guess. Or if someone can provide me with the original picture then I'll open it back up and use that one instead.

I'm by no means a professional or semi-professional graphic designer at all. I'm just a regular person with photoshop. So with that in mind..

http://i.imgur.com/YDpXG.png

http://i.imgur.com/6LMVQ.png

Just something you can actually read.

BRAVO! That first one is outstanding...:xoxo:

[BTFLCHLD]

Just something you can actually read. very nice indeed!

WOT? no submission from the OP?