Previous Next Latest

Weekend Rock List: Best Album Covers of 2008

12/5/08, 5:10 pm EST

Our look back at the year that was begins with this weekend’s Rock List, dedicated to the Best Album Covers of 2008. Even though people are buying fewer albums and thus experiencing less album art, thankfully the artists weren’t skimping on the cover art. Let us know which albums caught your eye before catching your ears and on Monday, we’ll reveal the Readers’ List. And no, In Rainbows doesn’t count. Here’s our favorites:

NasUntitled
Kanye West808s & Heartbreak
WeezerThe Red Album
Lil WayneTha Carter 3
MetallicaDeath Magnetic

Related Stories:

Q&A: Nas

How Lil Wayne Became a Superstar

Metallica: Louder, Faster, Stronger


Previous Next Latest

Comments

J | 12/5/2008, 5:24 pm EST

This one’s easy. THE KILLERS DAY & AGE

Nic | 12/5/2008, 5:33 pm EST

Pretty sad these are the best none of them are very exciting.

Troy | 12/5/2008, 5:36 pm EST

Here’s a few suggestions:

Tom Gabel – Heart Burns
Ben Folds – Way to Normal
The Bronx – The Bronx (III)
Conor Oberst – Conor Oberst
Death Cab for Cutie – Narrow Stairs
We Are Scientists – Brain Thrust Mastery

ek | 12/5/2008, 5:44 pm EST

THE KILLERS DAY & AGE!

manouche | 12/5/2008, 5:45 pm EST

Day & age-the killers

Leila | 12/5/2008, 5:57 pm EST

The Killers Day & Age!!!!

MOSS | 12/5/2008, 6:00 pm EST

Not the best of years for album covers.

1victim | 12/5/2008, 6:02 pm EST

Day and Age, The Killers, the most beautiful album cover I’ve seen in a long time.

1victim | 12/5/2008, 6:03 pm EST

Day and Age, the Killers

z | 12/5/2008, 6:05 pm EST

okay seriously every weezer album cover has been pretty much the same since the very beginning. seriously rolling stone you can do much better than this

my picks:
The Killers-Day & Age
The Raconteurs-Consolers of the Lonely
Panic at the Disco-Pretty. Odd.
Oasis-Dig Out Your Soul
Shiny Toy Guns-Season of Poison

nez | 12/5/2008, 6:09 pm EST

the killers day and age

Carmen | 12/5/2008, 6:14 pm EST

Day & Age – The Killers. The album cover is absolutely gorgeous.

Audrey | 12/5/2008, 6:23 pm EST

The Killers – Day & Age, without a doubt

Tony | 12/5/2008, 6:28 pm EST

Killers – Day & Age
Kanye West – 808s and Heartbreak
Metallica – Death Magnetic

Joe | 12/5/2008, 6:30 pm EST

The Killers – Day and Age

Guns and Roses – Chinese Democracy

Nas – Untitled

NIN – The Slip

Four Nick Eight | 12/5/2008, 6:32 pm EST

Coldplay – Viva la Vida

Erykah Badu – Amerykah

Travis | 12/5/2008, 6:42 pm EST

Oasis – Dig Out Your Soul
Ben Folds – Way to Normal
The Raconteurs – Consolers of the Lonely
Mudcrutch – Mudcrutch
Secret Machines – Secret Machines
Beck – Modern Guilt

Kaleho | 12/5/2008, 6:44 pm EST

Islands – Arm’s Way

sun giant | 12/5/2008, 7:00 pm EST

i don’t understand what the big deal is with ‘day & age’. i mean, it’s pretty cool, but it’s not like the most amazing thing i’ve ever seen or anything like that. for me it’s between ‘consolers of the lonely’ or fleet foxes’ ’sun giant’. that’s an amazing cover.

Jason | 12/5/2008, 7:08 pm EST

The Killers – Day & Age.

david | 12/5/2008, 7:09 pm EST

kings of leon- only by the night
coldplay- viva la vida
ra ra riot- the rhumb line
fleet foxes- fleet foxes
girl talk- feed the animals

Emily | 12/5/2008, 7:11 pm EST

The killers day and age!!!!!!

Jason | 12/5/2008, 7:12 pm EST

The artist for Day & Age is very interesting and I love how it depicts the desert, which is something the band holds value to, as depicted in several of their songs.

Eddie | 12/5/2008, 7:16 pm EST

The Killers- Day and Age

ANUS | 12/5/2008, 7:20 pm EST

DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE-NARROW STAIRS

i | 12/5/2008, 7:25 pm EST

Day & Age – The Killers

JSuzart | 12/5/2008, 8:07 pm EST

Girl Talk – Feed The Animals (The best cover!!!!)
Connor Oberst – Connor Oberst
Cat Power – Jukebox
Death Cab for Cutie – Narrow Stairs

matt | 12/5/2008, 8:21 pm EST

The Mars Volta – Bedlam in Goliath

pure genius.

gg | 12/5/2008, 9:02 pm EST

The Illusion Of Progress-Staind
Take Them On, On Your Own-Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
Light it Up-Rev Theory
10 Years-Division
Dig Out Your Soul-Oasis
The Slip-Nine Inch Nails

clay | 12/5/2008, 9:24 pm EST

how about the offsprings, rise and fall , rage ang grace cover.That was pretty sick

Dan | 12/5/2008, 10:13 pm EST

I like Fleet Foxs’ cover. And I’ve got to agree that the new Killers cover is easy on the eyes. Your choices are lacking, RS. The Red Album, Seriously?

regg | 12/5/2008, 11:16 pm EST

of montreal’s skeletal lamping, by far

iris | 12/5/2008, 11:16 pm EST

totally agree that bedlam in goliath was cool. also albert hammond, jr.’s como te llama!! that was a good one. plus it comes with a sticker.
(i’m easily won-over.)

Beth | 12/5/2008, 11:26 pm EST

the Killers!!!! DAY & AGE!!!!!!!

km | 12/5/2008, 11:28 pm EST

Nas
Death Cab
Metallica
The Killers
Scarlett Johansson
Bauhaus
The Cure

Da Truf | 12/5/2008, 11:28 pm EST

Kings of Leon-Only by the Night is def my fav this year. I’ve had it as my wallpaper for a while now, not even that great of an album but a sweet cover cho fo

archie | 12/5/2008, 11:36 pm EST

weezer
mudcrutch

km | 12/5/2008, 11:36 pm EST

and I forgot: Amanda Palmer

jen | 12/6/2008, 1:29 am EST

THE KILLERS DAY & AGE

s | 12/6/2008, 4:03 am EST

of montreal – skeletal lamping, seriously the coolest thing i’ve seen in a while.

killers – day & age

the cure – 4:13 dream

cuca43 | 12/6/2008, 5:32 am EST

VIVA LA VIDA

Hannah | 12/6/2008, 5:40 am EST

Weezer’s album cover?! That’s a joke. Day & Age by the Killers is by far the best for me.

robbie k | 12/6/2008, 9:26 am EST

Black Mountain- In The Future
Fleet Foxes- Fleet Foxes
Girl Talk- Feed The Animals
My Morning Jacket- Evil Urges
Coldplay- Viva La Vida

dogonroof | 12/6/2008, 9:29 am EST

Acid Tongue-Jenny Lewis
Only By Night-Kings of Leon
Day and Age-The Killers
Viva la Vida-Coldplay
Explosion-White Denim
Tha Carter 3-Lil Wayne
Evil Urges-My Morning Jacket
Fleet Foxes-Fleet Foxes
Narrow Stairs-Death Cab For Cutie
Midnight Boom-The Kills
Vampire Weekend-Vampire Weekend
The Bedlam In Goliath-The Mars Volta
Jukebox-Cat Power
Distortion-Magnetic Fields

thezero | 12/6/2008, 10:41 am EST

metallica – death magnetic

xiu xiu – women as lovers

q-tip – the renaissance

the mars volta – bedlam in goliath

Wayne | 12/6/2008, 10:47 am EST

Torche “Meanderthal”

Wayne | 12/6/2008, 10:48 am EST

Samothrace “Life’s Trade”

hari | 12/6/2008, 11:13 am EST

Nine Inch Nails – The Slip
Portugal. the Man – Censored Colors

spaceman2 | 12/6/2008, 12:04 pm EST

the killers day and age.

johhnyb | 12/6/2008, 12:08 pm EST

death magnetic

Tino | 12/6/2008, 2:56 pm EST

Smashing Pumpkins – American Gothic

Kaleho | 12/6/2008, 3:40 pm EST

forgot….

Cut Copy – In Ghost Colours

the colors on that cover is just great

beynonson | 12/6/2008, 4:23 pm EST

neon neon’s stainless style or kanye’s 808s & heartbreak

Daniel | 12/6/2008, 4:41 pm EST

Where’s Day and Age?
The best of this year so far

Adam | 12/6/2008, 4:47 pm EST

1) The Killers – Day & Age
2) Kings of Leon – Only by the Night

Koko B. Ware | 12/6/2008, 4:54 pm EST

Thw White Stripes-Icky Thump

Shane | 12/6/2008, 9:17 pm EST

Eagles of Death Metal-Heart On

Anonymous | 12/6/2008, 9:47 pm EST

the sound of animals fighting- The ocean and the sun
mars volta- bedlam goliath
lil wayne- drought is over part six
cinematic sunrise- A Coloring Storybook and Long-Playing Record

Captain Molotov | 12/6/2008, 10:21 pm EST

Nine Inch Nails – The Slip

Adam | 12/6/2008, 10:47 pm EST

Nine Inch Nails-The Slip
M83-Saturdays=Youth
Bon Iver-For Emma, Forever Ago
Death Cab For Cutie-Narrow Stairs
The Cure-4:13 Dream
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds-Dig, Lazarus Dig!!!
Fleet Foxes-Fleet Foxes

Day and Age...of Metal!!! | 12/6/2008, 10:50 pm EST

Scorpions – Blackout
Judas Priest – British Steel
AC/DC – Back in Black
Iron Maiden – The Number of the Beast

\m/

Doggone Roofies | 12/6/2008, 10:56 pm EST

Jackson Browne looks downright SCARY on Time the Conquerer, so I love that one.
Jenny Lewis- Acid Tongue is cool.
Telepathic Butterflies- Whatever their new one is called. Great Band.
Neil Young- Canterbury House 1968
(a classic Linda McCartney shot)
Fireman…Art by Paul’s Inner Child.
Chinese Democracy- Axel..kinda alright..looks dated already.
Scarlett Johansson- Come and Hear Me Sing Tom Waits… nice job.
White Stripes- Icky Thumper.

orson | 12/6/2008, 11:51 pm EST

“consolers of the lonely” had a really sweet cover

brett | 12/7/2008, 12:32 am EST

no. 1 these covers SUCK. what the hell have covers become in this day and age???

no. 2 the only interesting cover ive seen is dig out your soul. you assholes better put this in the list.

Lee Harvey | 12/7/2008, 5:50 am EST

AC/DC – “Black Ice”

kw | 12/7/2008, 11:40 am EST

Hello?! The Killers! – Day & Age!!!

HUNNK | 12/7/2008, 12:43 pm EST

The cover for “Day and Age” is beautiful. No contest here, in my opinion…

Joel | 12/7/2008, 12:58 pm EST

Day & Age

day and age? | 12/7/2008, 1:12 pm EST

day and age is a horrible cover its not even creative someone just used the mosaic function in photoshop

Nole | 12/7/2008, 1:28 pm EST

Really? All these “DIFFERENT” people LOVE the nothing special cover for the nothing special Killers’ album? Smells fishy.

The best, however are:

Lil Wayne (amazingly hilarious)
The Mars Volta
Nine Inch Nails
Of Montreal
My Morning Jacket

and #1…
RZA. The greatest album cover….of the 21st century so far

Rose | 12/7/2008, 1:56 pm EST

Day & Age – The Killers

Beautiful album art work!

Helen | 12/7/2008, 2:04 pm EST

The Killers Day & Age..

Its just so prettyful :D

I love Paul Normansell’s artwork :D

xx

Helen | 12/7/2008, 2:04 pm EST

The Killers Day & Age..

Its just so prettyful :D

I love Paul Normansell’s artwork :D

xx

enddust56 | 12/7/2008, 2:27 pm EST

The Killers Day & Age

thatguy | 12/7/2008, 2:54 pm EST

Amanda Palmer – Who Killed Amanda Palmer
Randy Newman – Harps and Angels
Nick Lowe – Jesus of Cool (if the reissue counts, which it shouldn’t, but I want to pad my list)
Ben Folds – Way To Normal
Beck – Odelay: Deluxe Edition (in this case I think the reissue should count)
Earth – The Bees Made Honey in the Lion’s Skull
Nas – Untitled

And can I anti-vote Day & Age? I don’t get the love at all.

CH | 12/7/2008, 3:20 pm EST

clearly Day & Age by the Killers!

Ari | 12/7/2008, 3:28 pm EST

The Killers – Day & Age
Sigur Ros – Heima
Fleet Foxes
Glasvegas

mh | 12/7/2008, 4:00 pm EST

THE KILLERS – DAY & AGE

best band ever with the great cover.

joanna | 12/7/2008, 4:01 pm EST

the killers- day & age

Sabrina | 12/7/2008, 6:32 pm EST

OBVIOUSLY The Killers Day & Age.

Mr. Anonymous | 12/7/2008, 6:33 pm EST

“4:13 Dream” by The Cure
“The Bedlam in Goliath” by The Mars Volta
“Chinese Democracy” by Guns N’ Roses
“Consolers of the Lonely” by The Raconteurs
“Death Magnetic” by Metallica
“Dig Out Your Soul” by Oasis
“Forth” by The Verve
“Indestructible” by Disturbed
“The Odd Couple” by Gnarls Barkley

Zach | 12/7/2008, 7:33 pm EST

Menahan Street Band’s “Make the Road by Walking” [great classic vibe]
The Very Best “Esau Mwamwaya & Radioclit are The Very Best”
Portishead “Third” [simple]

bloopa | 12/7/2008, 8:51 pm EST

The Killers- Day & Age.

Leafvongola | 12/7/2008, 9:07 pm EST

Bedlam in Goliath by Mars Volta
Consolers of the Lonely by the Raconteurs
In the Future by Black Mountain
A Hundred Things Keep Me Up At Night by Love is All
Modern Guilt by Beck
Antidotes by Foals
The Odd Couple by Gnarls Barkley
Oracular Spectacular by MGMT
Nouns by No Age
Skeletal Lamping by Of Montreal
Accelerate by R.E.M.
Lust Lust Lust by the Raveonettes
Exposion by White Denim
Fucked Up Friends by Tobacco
Sorry if any of these came out in 2007, my memory can be shaky and i didn’t check the dates

kanyefan4ever | 12/8/2008, 12:10 am EST

come on y’all where is the love for 808s and heartbreak. thats my vote.

?confused? | 12/8/2008, 12:18 am EST

Definitely not Day and Age

just a few:
Mudcrutch
Metallica – Death Magnetic
Coldplay -Viva La Vida
Of Montreal – Skeletal Lamping
Oracular Spectacular by MGMT
NIN – The Slip

kattoy | 12/8/2008, 1:57 am EST

Day & Age

Melanie | 12/8/2008, 5:45 am EST

The Killers – Day & Age.

Melanie | 12/8/2008, 5:45 am EST

The Killers – Day & Age.

Melanie | 12/8/2008, 5:45 am EST

The Killers – Day & Age.

Melanie | 12/8/2008, 5:45 am EST

The Killers – Day & Age.

Killers FTW. | 12/8/2008, 5:46 am EST

Definitely The Killers – Day & Age.

Leanie | 12/8/2008, 9:49 am EST

The Killers Day and Age.
Yes

Xformer | 12/8/2008, 12:17 pm EST

“Chinese Democracy” GNR

amar | 12/8/2008, 1:04 pm EST

i wonder how many of these killers advocates have even seen as much as five other album covers this year, let alone HEARD five other albums

Reality Diner's Club Card | 12/8/2008, 1:35 pm EST

Can I vote 10 times against Day and Age?

Chinese Democracy by GNR is a great symbolic album cover

brian | 12/8/2008, 2:03 pm EST

narrow stairs, anyone? That’s got my vote.

mpp | 12/8/2008, 2:40 pm EST

Mudcrutch

Death Magnetic

Allan | 12/8/2008, 10:00 pm EST

The Killers Day & Age

Bruce | 12/8/2008, 10:01 pm EST

It could only be The Killers – Day & Age! It’s fantastic!

Cundy | 12/8/2008, 10:03 pm EST

My vote’s for Day & Age! and no, it was not done in photoshop ****head!

The Killers! | 12/8/2008, 10:06 pm EST

Day & Age is the best of the year! nothing else comes close

Allan | 12/8/2008, 10:08 pm EST

The Killers Day & Age absolutely gorgeous its amazing, Simplicity is priceless, the best album cover of 2008 for sure!

Becky | 12/8/2008, 10:14 pm EST

The Killers – Day & Age

Carina | 12/8/2008, 10:15 pm EST

The Killers- Day & Age

Carina | 12/8/2008, 10:15 pm EST

The Killers- Day & Age

Human | 12/8/2008, 10:20 pm EST

Day & Age is the best album cover of the last decade! it’s got to win!!

Spaceman | 12/8/2008, 10:22 pm EST

i agree! The Killers album is the best! go Day & Age!!!!!

tk | 12/8/2008, 10:56 pm EST

lmao i can see some killers haters. i dont know why you’d vote for anything else.

THE KILLERS- DAY & AGE!!!

d | 12/9/2008, 12:36 am EST

1. Day and Age- The Killers
2. Only By the Night-Kings of Leon
3. Everything is Borrowed-the Streets

Shaun | 12/9/2008, 2:08 am EST

The Killers – Day & Age

the dynamtie sock | 12/9/2008, 2:42 am EST

Hey Reality Diner’s Club Card, GnR’s new album art is even shitter than the songs on the album, which sounds like prime evil moaning and guitar genocide, axle is a cock.

Day & Age by the Killers for the win!!

Mrs Flowers | 12/9/2008, 10:48 am EST

The Killers – Day & Age

Annie | 12/9/2008, 11:27 am EST

The Killers – Day & Age

Jen | 12/9/2008, 1:37 pm EST

The Killers – Day & Age

!!!

BB | 12/9/2008, 2:57 pm EST

The Killers – Day & Age

ids | 12/9/2008, 3:26 pm EST

the killers… day and age

Jade | 12/9/2008, 3:40 pm EST

The Killers, hands down!

Lola! | 12/9/2008, 3:40 pm EST

THE KILLERS-DAY & AGE

Its the only choice in my book.

sameer | 12/9/2008, 5:10 pm EST

probably the killers – day and age

Mick | 12/9/2008, 5:25 pm EST

the killers day & age!!!

Nb | 12/9/2008, 8:18 pm EST

Day & Age. Good Artwork. ;]

Emmylou | 12/9/2008, 10:02 pm EST

Nothing else beats DAY AND AGE from THE KILLERS. Anyone who disagrees obviously has no sense to tell what great artwork is. Can you make a masterpiece with thousands of individual dots? Exactly. And no the art work was not photoshop. It took a great vision to create that.

Chinese Democracy having symbolism? Are you just playing stupid? You have more of a chance of the American economy improving than the Chinese actually having a democracy. C’mon, get your head outta your ass people.

THE BERACA! | 12/9/2008, 11:05 pm EST

THE KILLERS! DAY AND AGE!

halfsoul | 12/10/2008, 2:48 pm EST

I’m shocked so many people are impressed with Day & Age. Oh how our public schools are failing us when people think Pointillism is some kind of brand new, genius revelation.

rgtl2093 | 12/10/2008, 7:58 pm EST

Without any doubts: The Killers, Day & Age

Post A Comment

Caution: Off-topic comments will be deleted

Name:

Comments:



Advertisement

Advertisement