Maybe I'm late to the game but I didn't see any threads about this. Is this it? What do we think? Is it just me or do they all look a bit too mournful?

This looks more like a PR graphic to me. Also, it just doesn't seem very "inspired" compared to Nick's usual work. Where is this from?

It was on the Live Nation U.K. Presale email that went out today and they usually only use approved artwork! But I hope they have made an exception this time!

I hope it isn't the album cover!

'Crowded House visit the wigshop' in the style of Grant Wood

LOL - seriously! Okay, I hope that I didn't start a horrible rumor here (Peter, please forgive me!)! I'm not sure that it is - I am just questioning as Live Nation is using it and I have never seen it before so the jury is DEFINITELY still out! And I leave it to those far more in the know than I to confirm or deny!

If that's the album cover, it's kind of hilarious and random. Which I'm thinking is not the tone they'd want to convey!

Whatever they decide with on the album cover, I'd just like to see something that builds from the band's strong tradition of cool imagery that doesn't necessarily hit you over the head with the literal. I know plenty of bands do just go with pictures of the band on the album cover, but I think that'd be a step down for our lads.

They have a tradition of strong but unpretentious visuals, usually somewhat mysterious but with quite a bit of humor and charm - and not just on album covers but just in general. I loved a lot of the designs on the '08 tour t-shirts and stuff! I thought those very much said "Crowded House" to my eyes, though I don't expect Nick was directly involved in all the designs.

I'd love to see something this time more in line with the style of Nick's "Burning Buildings" era, of course incorporating different and new motifs but that kind of aesthetic.

Apart from the fact that the pictures look too mournful -- and Neil looks like he's auditioning to be the professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts for the last installment of Harry Potter -- I can't imagine this being the cover, for one simple reason: although we all know Neil is the leader of the band, I doubt he would ever consent to having his face enlarged on an album cover at the expense of his bandmates.

Hahaha this is hilarious. I actually dig the way he has positioned the photos, Mark and Matt to the side, a big mug shot of Neil, Nick in the middle with his big shoulder pads, hahah this made my morning! It seems like there's meant to be more to it though. And just look at there other album covers - Woodface anyone?! Temple of Low Men for that matter?! I hope they go for something like this - the Time On Earth album cover was a bit cut and dry (literally i guess, made of all those newspaper clippings!)

The picture of Neil looks exactly like that painting of him that won some award recently.

Also, if it were the album cover, it would have a title. There doesn't even appear to be room for a title, without putting it across everyone's faces.

I'm fairly certain that isn't the new album cover

And even if this is just a PR photo, isn't it a pretty weird PR photo? I can't imagine that Live Nation created it themselves! I am assuming that is was provided to them by some official entity! I'm sorry but in those suits & with those expressions, they look like they are at a funeral!

quote:

Posted by Watney Sideburns:

Neil looks like he's auditioning to be the professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts

Excellent; with Nick clearly auditioning for the part of house elf!

quote:

Originally posted by Jenny G.:
I'm sorry but in those suits & with those expressions, they look like they are at a funeral!

Hmm... reminds me of a song I know...

Similar composition??
http://pictureisunrelated.com/...ttle-person-tabl.jpg

quote:

and Neil looks like he's auditioning to be the professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts for the last installment of Harry Potter --

My God, he really does look like Severus Snape!!

Wasn't it Noel Crombie who had an aversion to that particular color?

When I first saw this, I immediately thought Neil looked like our dear Prime Minister on the $10 bill.



You can see the resemblance in the bit around the nose...

I think I like it .... note the 'think'.
maybe besides Neil's hair .... I think I could deal with it if that was the album cover.

Although I don't think it will be, if ever they've appeared on the front of their own albums it's been in painted form.... but hey, there's a first for everything.

hmmmm.... it's growing on me.
but yes, slightly 'uninspired'
I'll agree with that.

Just got ANOTHER email with a larger version:

And is that blood dripping from the buttons? So strange!