quote:

Originally posted by BART:
I must admit I like it more (or dislike it less??!!) now I've seen the full image.

Agreed!

quote:

Originally posted by GraceToo:
Full image is on the CH Tour page, posted here for your viewing convenience. Somebody made a mess on the floor...

Neil and Nick are looking at us. But what or who are Matt and Mark looking at? Are they staring at the retreating shape of the polka-dotted dog who left the polka-dotted mess on the floor?

quote:

But what or who are Matt and Mark looking at?

A/ A mirror. Matt saying 'You sure this is our best side?'

B/ Album track list. Mark saying 'Can't believe we're leaving Turn It Around' off the album.....and I came up with that clever synth part. All because we couldn't get Thom Yorke to guest vocal on the high part'

The first time I saw it I found it OK a bit like a Gentlemens' Private drinking Club atmosphere.

Look very careful at Neils eyes , they move if you stare at them!!

quote:

Originally posted by constant:

Look very careful at Neils eyes , they move if you stare at them!!

Oooooh yes! They follow you when you move. LOL

quote:

Originally posted by constant:
The first time I saw it I found it OK a bit like a Gentlemens' Private drinking Club atmosphere.

If they did make that the album cover, they'd just about have to call it Gentlemens' Private Drinking Club.

While Crowded House has not usually gone with overly-slick artwork - preferring the lovingly handmade and eclectic aesthetic - I do think this would be a jarring album cover. Compared to previous covers, it's not lovingly handmade at all, and it does look like fan art.

Mind you: I like the image! It's neat and funky, but even as a poster, I don't think I'd look at a poster of that and say...well, whatever else I'd say, I'd say it doesn't say "Crowded House" to me. It looks like some of the cool-nifty images we all fans mock up as avatars. These are all for the most part VERY WELL DONE. But I don't think I've ever seen a single one that would jump out at me "PERFECT!" "Great cover!" "that's the attitude - nobody else has it!" - the way honestly, every CH album cover so far has. That's no knock on fan art.

And of course Neil solo covers, or Finn Bros covers, have gone for different styles and effects - rightly so. I've liked all of them, but I don't think any of them have the feel the band's been after. And rightly so - it wasn't Crowded House.

Please note - CH album covers don't stand still. Each is quite different from the others - only the first two can even be strongly compared (in my view). I loved the cover for Time On Earth, which is nothing like that for Afterglow, which is nothing like that for Together Alone, which is nothing like that for Woodface, which is nothing like that for Temple of Low Men, which admittedly is a little like a sequel to Crowded House. So this is not about wanting the band to "stand still", just about pointing out what a high standard they've had of great and varied album covers - yet all somehow, to me at least "of-a-piece." And just hoping the same high standard they always miraculously pull out, that always looks and feels like coming home - will be there this next time out.

This band always feels like coming home to me, no matter what the album cover looks like. They've been so widely varied in composition and thematic elements, but they've all (for me) felt like one tradition. I'm just a bit of a traditionalist where these guys are concerned, and I hope to see something that hits me "there" - whatever the actual image may be.

quote:

Originally posted by BART:

quote:

But what or who are Matt and Mark looking at?

A/ A mirror. Matt saying 'You sure this is our best side?'

B/ Album track list. Mark saying 'Can't believe we're leaving Turn It Around' off the album.....and I came up with that clever synth part. All because we couldn't get Thom Yorke to guest vocal on the high part'

I wouldn't really be surprised if something like that was about the size of it.

quote:

Originally posted by Mr. Sadly:
This band always feels like coming home to me, no matter what the album cover looks like. They've been so widely varied in composition and thematic elements, but they've all (for me) felt like one tradition. I'm just a bit of a traditionalist where these guys are concerned, and I hope to see something that hits me "there" - whatever the actual image may be.

That was so beautifully put Mr Sadly, that I just had to agree with a quote

Thanks AndiB!

And can I say, I'm REALLY PSCHED UP to see the new album cover, whenever Nick's finished with it!

quote:

Originally posted by Watney Sideburns:
But what or who are Matt and Mark looking at?

I like this image but...

It reminds me of the Southpark episode where Faith plus One album shoot their album cover. Cartman tell Token everyone has to spread out, strike different poses and stare into the distance in different directions.

Having trouble pasting the image in so can be seen here:

South Park Faith plus One

It looks like to me like a murder mystery who dunnit it type of design - weird!!!

quote:

Originally posted by constant:
It looks like to me like a murder mystery who dunnit it type of design - weird!!!

Perhaps it was Professor Grey who did it, in the music room, with the guitar string.

Judging by the colour of the backdrop, Colonel Mustard has been driven up (and pulverized on) the wall. Could this be the handiwork of ... THE INTRIGUER???

It's Monty Python-esque to me - I keep expecting the big foot to come down!

hmmmmm........what about the Reverend (Peter) Green, with the candlestick, or Sharondelier, in the Ballroom??!

quote:

Originally posted by caledonia girl:
It's Monty Python-esque to me - I keep expecting the big foot to come down!

LOL OMG! EXACTLY!

You've reduced me to all caps and chatspeak, caledonia girl!

quote:

Originally posted by Beajai:

quote:

Originally posted by constant:
It looks like to me like a murder mystery who dunnit it type of design - weird!!!

Perhaps it was Professor Grey who did it, in the music room, with the guitar string.

Who's Professor Grey? - I always knew him as Plum.

quote:

Originally posted by Noel Crombie's Hair:

quote:

Originally posted by Beajai:

quote:

Originally posted by constant:
It looks like to me like a murder mystery who dunnit it type of design - weird!!!

Perhaps it was Professor Grey who did it, in the music room, with the guitar string.

Who's Professor Grey? - I always knew him as Plum.

It was, but then there was never a music room or a guitar string either. I guess I picked the hair colour of a certain gentleman.

There's space yet closeness - it's very well done.Yeah it's cool I like it.

I don't care what the cover looks like...

JUST GIMME THE MUSIC!!!

oh, and while you're at it, some front row tickets for Amsterdam. :-)

I'm always getting a bit excited when there is news on the CH front. Better take my pills now...