slipknot analysis

The music genre is Rock and I think that you can tell by the cover as the artist is unrevealed which is very stereotypical of a rock band. The colours are also very dull and dark which tends to be a running theme through rock although surprisingly red has also been used here, but this could also represent the theme of blood and gore image that rockers like to create.

The artist isn’t featured on the front cover as by this point they were a very established band and their audience would recognise them through the name and style of writing that is continuous on their CDs. Instead the artists are replaced with gothic looking clowns and skulls that are symbols of the Rock culture. There is also no title of the CD cover, I feel that this again is because they have a very specific audience and the band feel that they don’t need to present an image of there songs to anyone and therefore they leave out the title, and leave the image to do the talking as you know the song is going to be very heavy and rock.

The main image presents 9 people dressed in red and wearing various masks such as a clown, skull, black leather the setting is a very dark place outside a building. They are positioned very close together with bowed head and angry expressions on the masks and body posture. The camera is given a high angle to create a sense of hierarchy over the band. The typical fan tends to be male and quite heavy rockers, the age I feel would be from late teens to late twenties.

CD cover analysis 1 - Girls Aloud - Out of control

Out of control is the latest album released by the all girl group Girls Aloud, this album has more of an older sound to it but still the audience and style of the pop genre is still there just with some twists added in to attract a more wide and diverse audience.

From the album cover you can tell that the genre is pop due to style of clothing that is worn and also the setting given to the band members on stage. It is obvious that it is pop as the band members are wearing extravagant clothing which shows that they are wealthy and sophisticated which is a regular characteristic of the pop genre, also pop tends to be associated with the genre having the most want of fame which is insinuated in the idea that the girls are all on a stage surrounded by their band name which could suggest them being very famous and almost as if they have “their name in lights” which is again a very common characteristic of a pop band/pop genre. I feel that due to the costume, shoes and make up the album cover also shows off their performance side of the band, like doing concerts and dance routines on stage. Each band member is on the front cover, each is given her own identity in the band through hair colour, style etc. this again shows a very common feature of a pop group because you never have any two members alike or similar to give the band something different to add to just the music but personality also.

The title itself “Out Of Control” I feel implies the idea that their music or stardom has taken a turn for example their music in this album is suggested to have “tried something different and advanced” which could be showing how they have just taken a wild jump in their music. It could also imply that the group have got out of controllably famous as this is their fifth album it would suggest they are well recognised now and the genre has developed and they don’t need to give it such a pop feel as fans already know what they do and what music they make.

Looking at the main image of the album cover I feel the band are represented as a diverse band, with each member having their own individual personality and bringing their own assets to the group. The body language and facial expression gives some sexual reference to it and creates the notion of looking at them sexually through their positioning and cheeky like gestures. Props are also limited, which I feel is to highlight the band members against the bright white background and lighting that focuses around the members, which again makes them the focus of the cover. The camera angle is direct on all the band members faces and they are all looking directly into the camera which gives an intimate relationship with them as it always looks like they are looking at you from whatever angle you look at them from. I think the mood that is supposed to be picked up on here is a very elegant and sophisticated party feel to the album so that the overall target audience which includes young children at about 7 years old to teenagers of about 16/17 years old. This would be a typically female fan base for the music but for the band it would include some males due to the nature of the girls appearance and notion of looking. You know this due to the songs that are released tend to relate to girls. This is also shown through the dress and makeup which would make teens idolise the pop figures.