When Albums Are Known For Both Their Music & Cover

In October, 2005, the Canadian band, Nickelback, released their studio album, ‘All The Right Reasons’. Word buzzed around that even though their sound was unique it was becoming cookie-cut. I would say that about the track, “Rock Star”. But I wouldn’t say that about a few of my favorite tracks. The track “Animals” was...oh well, will make some, weak at heart and stomach, blush. “Savin’ Me” shows great promise of the band’s focus. (You will hear more of their focus from their new CD ‘Dark Horse’) But what I found rather beautifully complete about this album can be heard and seen.

What's beautiful when you hear this album come from two songs. One: from the song, “Far Away”, a song that I consider The Ultimate Love Song. It seems that everyone appreciates a love song, especially if that song can describe a person's love for someone. Two: from the tune, “If Everyone Cared”. This song sounds almost like a rock-gospel. Imagine that a song with a moral overtone and not too boring or sappy or overly religious. Hmm...

I sat down to write not just about the sound of Nickelback. I wanted to write specifically about this album's cover shot. I love photography. I think it interesting and quite unique, and that there is never an identical shot. This cover is one of my all-time favorites: It’s a simple photo shot. It's about a place we’ve all found ourselves, whether it was behind the wheel or as passengers, speeding down a highway and headed towards that party or vacation spot. One might say that this is just a photo of a vehicle on a highway. To me, this photo says a lot more. It is said that a picture can be worth a thousand words, and some of those words could be in the form of questions. Doesn't the cover invite you into the photo? Were you ready to hit the brakes when you first saw this shot? How fast do you think the driver is going? Can you can almost feel the horsepower of a fine engine as your back is pressed into plush seating? What song would you listen to while on that road and in that car? Can you imagine your vehicle of choice? (Mine would be the Maybach)

I must confess that most of the time, I do tend to choose music by the artists' album cover. To me, the more interesting and unique it is, the better. SOMEtime (shhh!) I will buy an album only for that reason and later try acquiring a taste for the artists' music. This method is not the way of finding better music but don’t count it out completely. There are some gems out there packaging great music. I have found my share of duds using this method, but every now-and-then, I come across that album cover that knocks my socks off and causes me to wonder if and when will I stumble across that next spectacular album cover?