Rush album cover
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- CygnusZero4
I did not make this, it was made someone on a rush message board I go to for their upcoming album, Clockwork Angels.
He posted it there to get some opinions, but many of them are not designers, so I figured I'd repost here to get some feedback on it. I said to him I thought it was too busy, way too much going on, what do you guys think?
- vitamins0
I can barely read the title.
- CygnusZero40
Im going to repost this thread in his thread on the rush board, so any feedback will help.
- exador10
WAY to busy.
some nice work in there...somewhere......but it's over done...too much stuff going on...not enough time spent on composition, and too much time spent on effects, bevels and textures....
go back, redo from start....
- vitamins0
Can we get a link of the message board?
- http://www.therushfo…CygnusZero4
- Of course everyone there loves it, they arent designers though. Figured Id help this guy out.CygnusZero4
- ok_not_ok0
Looks like he went crazy with the PS filters.
- bigtrickagain0
yeah... too much drop shadow, too much bevel & emboss, too much texturize. basic layout is nice, but it needs more thought and less buttonclicking.
- hellojeehae0
readability issue
- ckentish0
it looks like the cover of a photoshop tutorial CD compiled by a non-designer who knows layers and effects in Photoshops and little else...
- oh shit! didnt read the reposting bit up top! ouchckentish
- But what do you REALLY think?duckofrubber
- ckentish0
the wings behind rush title look too much like a mustache
- A kick ass wild west mustache, not good for this though.CygnusZero4
- CygnusZero40
Like I said Ill repost this there so he can try and get better, since he clearly wants to.
- scarabin0
how about making the name of the band, which is like the only important information on it, legible?
- Hehe, try to be nice, this guy is gonna read all this. Dont want to ruin his weekend.CygnusZero4
- Clockwork Angels is important too, but I think its too small.CygnusZero4
- whistleblower0
The design is great IMO, but the title/band name needs to be a lot legible. I would change anything personally.
- vitamins0
Reminds me of Dave McKean
- d_rek0
It would seem to me a band like Rush should have outgrown this type of aesthetic. I mean we're talking one of the most celebrated canadian prog-rock bands of all time...
The cover lacks a certain polish/refinement both in technique and concept to really strike me as something well done or original. You could visit deviantart and almost certainly find something very similar done by any number of wannabe digital artists/illustrators out there. All of the photoshop effects add another layer of amateur execution to the whole thing. The type also does not seem wholly integrated or thought out and mostly gets lost with the rest of the imagery.
All of these things sort of add up to create a composition that is neither exciting or original. What would happen if you put this on the shelf at a store? Would you even be able to pick it out against myriad albums that contain equally poor artwork?
The single artwork is better but is still rather kitschy. Still, it has the refinement the cover you've presented is lacking.
- flashbender0
"it needs more thought and less buttonclicking. "
This will be my favorite phrase for the next ten days.
- fooler20
I'm not sure the typical RUSH fan really cares about the over use of layers and effects. Yes, they are over done but their fans seem to be getting pretty old (40 year old men) and they might not be as design savvy as us design snobs on QBN and they just want to listen to Getty Lee scream like a girl.
My biggest problem is it's way to busy, detailed and the copy is way to small. It might work for a 12" vinyl but when it pops up on your iPod you're not going to be able to read it all.
Have designers that do a lot of record covers started to simplify their designs to be easily read on a small digital devices?- Oh you're exactly right, they dont know whats really good or isnt, but that doesnt mean the cover shouldnt be great.CygnusZero4
- And I think that cover designs should be simple, for the reason you stated.CygnusZero4
- Douglas0
it's too literal. i find it insulting, dated, and ugly.