One of the worst covers of the year... apparently.

Perpetual Change · December 05, 2011, 11:38:15 PM

I like to think of it as a metaphor for MP and DT's relationship, with MP being the clown performing the balancing act above and out-side the Dream Theater airplane, about to be knocked down from his high-status as the plane flies-on. I think it really makes sense that way. Mike was not only a major comic element in the band (constantly joking around and what not), but he also was always balancing Dream Theater with his other projects and even beginning to treat the band as his own personal "one man show" according to many fans (and my own) opinions. I know that interpretation might be wrong, but in the absence of any other explanation from the rest of the band I've kept to it, and honestly I like the album art a lot more when I think of it that way. The same goes for the album itself, too. The band can deny that there aren't ANY Mike related lyrics on the album until their blue in the face, but I still find it hard to believe.

::raises anti-ohgodhowdareyouspeculate-shield::

Jaffa · December 06, 2011, 12:14:57 AM

Regardless of the album cover's meaning or lackthereof, I just think it looks bad. Don't know about one of the worst of the year... but I do know that I like several of the others on that list better.

nikatapi · December 06, 2011, 12:18:48 AM

Quote from: Perpetual Change on December 05, 2011, 11:38:15 PM
I like to think of it as a metaphor for MP and DT's relationship, with MP being the clown performing the balancing act above and out-side the Dream Theater airplane, about to be knocked down from his high-status as the plane flies-on. I think it really makes sense that way. Mike was not only a major comic element in the band (constantly joking around and what not), but he also was always balancing Dream Theater with his other projects and even beginning to treat the band as his own personal "one man show" according to many fans (and my own) opinions. I know that interpretation might be wrong, but in the absence of any other explanation from the rest of the band I've kept to it, and honestly I like the album art a lot more when I think of it that way. The same goes for the album itself, too. The band can deny that there aren't ANY Mike related lyrics on the album until their blue in the face, but I still find it hard to believe.

::raises anti-ohgodhowdareyouspeculate-shield::

I completely agree with your post. It was pretty obvious to me since the first time i saw the cover.
About the cover, its not that bad, but i think it is one of DT's worst ones.

YtseJamittaja · December 06, 2011, 12:55:42 AM

Quote from: kirksnosehair on December 05, 2011, 12:38:59 PM
I wasn't crazy about the cover, but I don't think it belongs on that list either.

Phantasmatron · December 06, 2011, 01:45:23 AM

Whoever wrote that article was just bad at having opinions. Almost nothing on that list was a horrible album cover. Most of them were just reasons for him to mock the artist. That's not funny, it's just plain obnoxious.

But yeah, this was not their best album cover. Not even close.

? · December 06, 2011, 05:39:06 AM

I actually think ADTOE has a pretty good cover and one of the best in 2011!

Jirpo · December 06, 2011, 06:03:35 AM

Quote from: kirksnosehair on December 05, 2011, 12:38:59 PM
I wasn't crazy about the cover, but I don't think it belongs on that list either.

Lowdz · December 06, 2011, 06:13:17 AM

It's the album title that's the problem for me. The original title works better with the cover, as was intended. The title change hasn't done Syme any favours.
My opinion? It's a bland cover and the fact he's used stock art used by a band in the same genre is lazy. I like the blue though.

rumborak · December 06, 2011, 03:19:48 PM

Quote from: Lowdz on December 06, 2011, 06:13:17 AM
the fact he's used stock art used by a band in the same genre is lazy.

Really? I was not aware of that. Details?

rumborak

7StringedBeast · December 06, 2011, 03:22:44 PM

Quote from: rumborak on December 06, 2011, 03:19:48 PM
Quote from: Lowdz on December 06, 2011, 06:13:17 AM
the fact he's used stock art used by a band in the same genre is lazy.

Really? I was not aware of that. Details?

rumborak

rumborak · December 06, 2011, 03:27:27 PM

Oh. WOW.

Especially considering how Circus Maximus started out sounding exactly like DT.
I dunno, with a stunt like that, Syme should be disqualified for any further DT albums. IMHO.

rumborak

7thHanyou · December 06, 2011, 04:26:39 PM

Quote from: LieLowTheWantedMan on December 05, 2011, 01:48:29 PM
The cover is horrible. Their worst aside from WDaDU.

Yeah, pretty much.

Shame, because I like 8 of 10 DT covers.

Perpetual Change · December 06, 2011, 04:30:09 PM

Hugh Syme is so overrated. Compared to the stuff he has displayed on his website, theart DT have gotten out of him is just boring and underwhelming. Hopefully, that last stock-art fumble will finally convince the band to go with someone else next time.

rumborak · December 06, 2011, 04:42:41 PM

Looking at his website, I definitely get the impression DT is just a small thing he does on the side, with not a lot of effort. Look at the portfolio and you can identify several elements he just reused for DT albums. Unicycling clown? Check. Elephants? Check. Small child in front of background? Check.
No DT cover is on his website either.

They really need to change to somebody else.

rumborak

jcmistat · December 06, 2011, 04:52:34 PM

Its really not that bad but the fact that the clown was used by Circus Maximus and it was reused baffles me.

CodyWanKenobi · December 06, 2011, 04:59:56 PM

I think the cover is beautiful. The only thing I had trouble liking at first was the fact that the unicycle guy was dressed like McDonalds.. but I'm over that and I love it.

My guess is the writer hates DT for some reason.

WindMaster · December 06, 2011, 05:01:12 PM

Even professional graphic artists use clipart from time to time. It's not a biggie.

Nekov · December 06, 2011, 05:12:59 PM

Quote from: WindMaster on December 06, 2011, 05:01:12 PM
Even professional graphic artists use clipart from time to time. It's not a biggie.

I don't think anyone thinks that the fact that he used a clipart is wrong. But using the same one the guys from Circus Maximus used? That is something to complain about.

Jamesman42 · December 06, 2011, 05:24:02 PM

Cmon

"Well, one artist used the clipart so another artist can't."

Nekov · December 06, 2011, 05:36:38 PM

The thing is, a lot of the people who listen to DT probably also listens to Circus Maximus. If a completley unknown band from Uganda had used that clipart no one would be talking about it. But a band that plays the same kind of music that so many people have related to DT, well, it seems lazy.

VioletS16 · December 06, 2011, 06:41:27 PM

Quote from: rumborak on December 06, 2011, 04:42:41 PM
Looking at his website, I definitely get the impression DT is just a small thing he does on the side, with not a lot of effort. Look at the portfolio and you can identify several elements he just reused for DT albums. Unicycling clown? Check. Elephants? Check. Small child in front of background? Check.
No DT cover is on his website either.

They really need to change to somebody else.

rumborak

Yeah. The stuff on his website is REALLY good. I think the 6DIOT artwork is the best them

lumpy33 · December 06, 2011, 07:30:34 PM

i hope the new rush album has the unicycle clown on the cover. it can turn into a franchise symbol that only the best bands have on their covers.

black_biff_stadler · December 06, 2011, 08:04:07 PM

My take on it is that clipart is a touch and go kinda thing. If you were making an album cover for a light-hearted comedian's audio CD, a musical artist/band that's renowned for having a generally amusing tone to their music, or any other creator of whimsical content that would be sold with packaging needing an album cover then I don't think the clipart thing is a terribly big deal.

However, if you're making an album cover that's supposed to be the jolly roger for an album that's got a very involved and serious tone to it, it just seems insulting to the band and fans alike to think it's okay to phone it in and not bother coming up with something original (as in the physical means of producing it, originality relating to the subject matter is obviously a whole other can of worms.) If you make art for a living, I can't imagine you'd be incapable of drawing a clown on a unicycle or, better yet, not reusing the theme of a clown on a unicycle in the first place.

jcmistat · December 06, 2011, 10:41:51 PM

Quote from: lumpy33 on December 06, 2011, 07:30:34 PM
i hope the new rush album has the unicycle clown on the cover. it can turn into a franchise symbol that only the best bands have on their covers.

That would actually turn out to be hilarious.

7StringedBeast · December 07, 2011, 07:44:55 AM

Is it one of the worst covers of the decade? I don't know, maybe not. Is it a pretty bad cover? Yeah I believe so. Lazy and boring is what comes to mind for me. I think it is just as lazy and boring as the black clouds disc. The only difference is that ADTOE has some better colors.

Kotowboy · December 07, 2011, 05:28:30 PM

Quote from: Fluffy Lothario on December 05, 2011, 02:08:40 PM
On a different note, the Beady Eye cover on that list is fantastic.

Terrible art. Dreadful album.

blackngold29 · December 07, 2011, 06:16:03 PM

The main point of the cover is 'Bridges in the Sky' which I believe is what JP told Syme was the album record when they ordered the picture. That makes sense, it fits it well and it would be difficult to draw a 'dramatic turn of events.'

Why it's a clown though, I don't see any connection.

Really, beat by Lady Gaga? Are they saying that this would've been an improvement?

ReaperKK · December 07, 2011, 07:29:28 PM

Quote from: rumborak on December 05, 2011, 10:34:23 PM
Who knows. I wouldn't even be surprised if Syme just took something he had lying around for a while.

I really believe he put it together in 10 minutes and said "all done!!!"

It's a terrible, terrible cover, but to be honest SDOIT and Metropolis are the only good covers DT has had IMO. FII isn't so bad either.

7StringedBeast · December 08, 2011, 08:11:13 AM

The Octavarium cover is pretty awesome.

DarkLord_Lalinc · December 08, 2011, 08:14:19 AM

I'd love a more photography-based art, like Train of Thought. It looks more professional and more mature (IMO), it reflects perfectly the nature of the album and some of those pictures are just plain amazing.

Fjubb · December 08, 2011, 09:13:22 AM

I think the artwork is pretty awful. Why use the clown in the exact same pose in every part of the artwork? Hugh Syme has literally just taken the same image of the clown and just pasted it in some random scenery (occasionally flipping the clown), and it just looks stupid.
Regarding the front cover, why is the clown riding the unicycle in an angle to the rope? Is he trying to fall off? The same can be said for most of the different images of the artwork.

I actually like the idea of the artwork, but it's so poorly done I almost can't believe it.

Mladen · December 08, 2011, 09:38:46 AM

Quote from: Fjubb on December 08, 2011, 09:13:22 AM
Regarding the front cover, why is the clown riding the unicycle in an angle to the rope? Is he trying to fall off?

He's about to make a wrong turn.

Get it? Turn? A dramatic turn? A dramatic turn of events?

yorost · December 08, 2011, 09:40:47 AM

Honestly, the rope is about to break, does it matter what direction he goes in?

1neeto · December 08, 2011, 11:53:06 AM

Can't take someone seriously when he ends his line with the #sarcasm meme.

rumborak · December 08, 2011, 05:57:35 PM

I really find it bizarre how a make-or-break album can have such lackluster artwork. I mean, you can't tell me that whole band thinks this is great artwork, considering the overall reception of it on this forum (and outside too, as can be seen by the OP link). I really wonder how the ball was dropped.

Or, maybe it went down like this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOqAamL9xls

rumborak

News:

One of the worst covers of the year... apparently.