What about the covers? no 12

For 2009 - No.12 - Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It's Blitz!

vinyl sleeve art front/back

vinyl inner sleeve art

AllMusic in it's review of the album says "It's Blitz!'s images of a woman's hand bursting an egg and fleshy tomatoes and mushrooms spread across an otherwise empty pizza box are surprising, immediate, and strangely sensual, and that goes double for the actual music". Indeed. The photography by David Belisle is what makes this album cover stand out from the rest this year, probably making it cover of the year. And by spot-varnishing the egg splash, they make it stand out even more! The inside of the album looks like a pizza box with the cd itself being the pizza and the band member's heads replacing mushrooms and stuff on it. There are also some photos by Autumn DeWilde and Eric Uhlir. Art direction is by Seb Marling and Karen O.

For the 00's - no.12 - Underworld - Oblivion With Bells

inner concertina Japan

inner concertina USA

inner concertina UK

John Warwicker is the art director on Oblivion. His company, tomato, is responsible for some of the most inspiring design around us today (check their projects and you will understand what i 'm talking about). The inner sleeve is a concertina which had different inner images according to the country of issue (europe, japan, us). The whole feel is perfectly co-ordinated with the music inside the cd, urban, atmospheric, modern. The tomato team also does Underworld's video clips.

Top 20 Countdown - no.12

For 2009

No.12 - Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It's Blitz

Karen O and her group deliver their poppiest album to date and hit gold. Keeping everything that is Yeah Yeah Yeahs and infusing it with pure pop with a twist of dance in it, they make an album that is at the same time familiar yet new and unknown.

For the 00's

No.12 - Underworld - Oblivion With Bells

The emperors of electronica returned with a vengeance with this one, putting to rest any doubt about their creative streak being strong. It is a record I have danced with many times and will keep on dancing with it for years to come.

2007 Top-20 Countdown - No.4

Best Albums of 2007 - No. 4

Underworld - Oblivion With Bells


Five years after their previous album, and with many side projects in-between, Underworld return with this long-awaited masterpiece. Rick Smith and Carl Hyde present us with an eclectic mix of electronic influences. "Crocodile" is my personal favourite, with an inherent sadness immediately apparent on the chorus (when you listen the line "all these things in me..."). Heart-breakingly beautiful and eerie at the same time, it captures your imagination and sends it soaring to the skies.

Check out the brilliant artwork too, like a Jackson Pollock painting, by the talented tomato - art director John Warwicker.

Crocodile



Beautiful Burnout



Glam Bucket



Boy Boy Boy



Worst Albums Of 2007 - No.4

Dolores O'Riordan - Are You Listening?
Fans of the Cranberries were waiting for this record for a while now. Her voice is still in form (for those who like it that is), but I cannot say the same about her music. With other ladies currently vying for our attention this year with brilliant results, Dolores sounds like a poor relative, destined to stay at the margin while others take centre stage. No, we will not be listening. Pity.

Ordinary Day