Digipak Research

When looking into creating my digipak, I chose to study Paramore's second album "RIOT!". 

The front cover of the album is sketchbook like. It features scribbles of the word "RIOT!" in the background. However on closer inspection it is evident that the writing is credits for the album.

The album title, "RIOT!" stands out the most on the cover, it’s one of the few bits of text written in colour and in this case the chosen font colour of orange takes a very central position on the cover. An image of the band is located directly below the album title in black and white and has been edited to give it a sketch-like look which fits in with the rest of the cover.

It isn't possible to see the whole of the album cover as a promotional sticker has been added at some stage in the production process. However I found another more generic picture of the album cover.

I noticed that the band’s name (Paramore) is not in the album artwork as a main title. The band’s name is instead on the area by the hinge of the album. It is also featured in the top right hand corner where it says "Paramore is..." and goes to list the band members and their roles. This is perhaps because its their second album, their image has been developed and is well known enough for them to be known simply through a picture and the name "Paramore" was no longer necessary on the cover for them to be identified. However, the sticker may have been added as it was confusing and in turn hindering sales.

 

The "RIOT!" scribble theme is present on the back cover of the album with the word "RIOT!" written in black with some information written in orange. The back cover features a track listing in orange above another black and white image of the band with a sketch like effect applied. The band look very close together and this gives an impression that they all get on and are happy. The image takes a central position on the lower half of the cover with the band looking directly at the "listener" who is looking at the cover. The band and their record label’s web addresses are also featured on the back cover along  with the barcode and copyright information.

The album’s insert, pictured above, further cements the notebook theme. All the font is in a scribbly style and looks childlike. Images of the band are again present and in the same style as with the rest of the panels. The insert includes the lyrics to four of their most well known songs with extra notes and doodles alongside. It feels quite personal and as though they are sharing intimate details with their fans. The whole album package with it’s notebook theme gives the sense of envy, anger and frustration with the constant doodles and almost rigid font. This angst is reflected in the songs on the album, for instance in the songs "Misery Business" and "That's What You Get". It’s clear to the listener that the theme of the album as a whole is reflected not only through the music but also through the album packaging. From the black and white contrasted with the orange, to the way the band are dressed in the album’s photographs is reflective of the pop-punk genre and conforms exactly to it. This is something that a lot of the band's audience can relate to as the band are pictured wearing fashionable items of clothing and the font used is very reflective of the emo style which some of their listeners choose to take up.

I feel that the cover for "RIOT!" is one of the best I have seen and going through this analysis process has made me realise just how good it is and the amount of hard work and thought that has gone into creating it.