As many know, Maiden's album art is a special topic for me. I don't consider myself an expert on artistic princi-ples, of course, but I do know when something is good.
I spent some time reviewing the covers of the varous albums, and they are spectacular. My favourite, of course, is that of Brave New World. Nothing can top that. It's loaded with symbolism, imagry, and kickass other stuff. And who can forget the stirring Clansman picture? Friggen awesome!
But then we have Dance of Death. I looked at the album again tonight, and I got pissed off all over again. Absolutely craptacular. I know there was a row between the producers and the guy who did all the art before DoD, but did they really have to get shitty like this? Absolutely retarded. The CGI just doesn't cut it for Maiden; I've come to expect better of them.
And that stupid black & white star design on the floor? WHAT THE F**K WERE THEY THINKING???? Honestly now.
Even if they couldn't get the original artist (I sadly can't remember his name), surely they could have gone with something less lame than this. I don't know much about the ins and outs of the recording industry, but I would assume the members of the band itself had litttle input on the artwork. Most likely it was the producer(s), so I don't hold a grudge against Maiden.
That being said, the art did make me unprepared to not like Dance of Death, and I am much more critical of the songs on that album than I am of the others. It's almost as if the crappy art made me search for a reason to not like the songs.
I needed to vent,
Duke
I spent some time reviewing the covers of the varous albums, and they are spectacular. My favourite, of course, is that of Brave New World. Nothing can top that. It's loaded with symbolism, imagry, and kickass other stuff. And who can forget the stirring Clansman picture? Friggen awesome!
But then we have Dance of Death. I looked at the album again tonight, and I got pissed off all over again. Absolutely craptacular. I know there was a row between the producers and the guy who did all the art before DoD, but did they really have to get shitty like this? Absolutely retarded. The CGI just doesn't cut it for Maiden; I've come to expect better of them.
And that stupid black & white star design on the floor? WHAT THE F**K WERE THEY THINKING???? Honestly now.
Even if they couldn't get the original artist (I sadly can't remember his name), surely they could have gone with something less lame than this. I don't know much about the ins and outs of the recording industry, but I would assume the members of the band itself had litttle input on the artwork. Most likely it was the producer(s), so I don't hold a grudge against Maiden.
That being said, the art did make me unprepared to not like Dance of Death, and I am much more critical of the songs on that album than I am of the others. It's almost as if the crappy art made me search for a reason to not like the songs.
I needed to vent,
Duke