OWB artwork appreciation thread

holden · #1 10-19-2007, 12:33 PM

Guess this could go in the process forum as well, but as it's Underworld-specific, let me say it here:

i LOOOVE the artwork for the new album.

It of course recalls the black-n-white graphics of Dubno and the splashy paint of STITI (there's a squiggle in the inside art hat looks like brother -of-STITI!). But like the music, the artwork has evolved from those days. In a good way!

The layers are so nicely integrated, everything looks planned and purposeful. The washes of color and photos inside the fold-out booklet are a welcome improvement from the sparse and imho not-too-interesting AHDO art (with it's small font scrambled text and monochrome photos).

In short, a masterpiece i can't stop looking at!

UW, please produce a poster for sale in the online shop!

galama · #2 10-19-2007, 04:31 PM

I was staring for a while trying to distinguish all fragmented, empuzzled elements melted in one hysterical, wet, drippy, chaotic piece of art.

Great job.

lloyd · #3 10-19-2007, 07:55 PM

I got the double album yesterday, looks great.

King of Snake · #4 10-20-2007, 01:56 AM

yeah it's really pretty to look at

Jan · #5 10-20-2007, 06:50 PM

From a fanboy's perspective it's cool, nice to look at, a masterpiece and whatever.

But from an objective point of view it's that typical, overused Tomato style, and, much worse, a dubnobasswithmyheadman rip-off. It has not evolved. It's a blatant rip-off.
They had so much really great output, artwork-wise. All those photos and sketches from underworldlive where so cool and each one of their own would have resulted in a lush, unmistakable album artwork.
They definately have evolved stylistically, but on the OWB cover they don't show it. Instead, they mix it all together resulting in that mess. They could have made it at least in color to seperate it from the dubno one.

Sorry for hijacking your "appreciation thread"

holden · #6 10-20-2007, 06:57 PM

i agree with you that it is typical Tomato style in terms of being layered and emphasizing sharp contrasts. But it's not exactly a Dubno rip-off, as that artwork was primarily text and featured much more white than black. It's something new, maybe a bit too much, but like a Jackson Pollock, you get lost in the lines.

crank · #7 10-21-2007, 11:18 AM

I guess that's what's great about art-criticism eh?
two sides to every nickel.

i personally love the blues and peaches and the lush hues contrasting with the black and white..

King of Snake · #8 10-21-2007, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jan

They had so much really great output, artwork-wise. All those photos and sketches from underworldlive where so cool and each one of their own would have resulted in a lush, unmistakable album artwork.

well according to Karl, the OWB artwork was constructed using loads of those little pictures he took over the years. And if you look at the inside of the artwork there's some really nice and different pieces of art there, including loads of photo's and sketches. If you like you can always re-fold the booklet and make one of the other pages become the front cover

negative1 · #9 10-22-2007, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by King of Snake

well according to Karl, the OWB artwork was constructed using loads of those little pictures he took over the years. And if you look at the inside of the artwork there's some really nice and different pieces of art there, including loads of photo's and sketches. If you like you can always re-fold the booklet and make one of the other pages become the front cover

yeah, i changed mine also, i agree i don't want to
get it mixed up with 'dubno' when i'm picking it up..
(and not looking carefully)..

-1