Rock Spot: Never Judge An Album By The Cover
By WTJU Rock
We asked rock DJs to name their worst album covers and here is part one of their responses. Sadly, there is more to come.
This is of course highly subjective since art, like food, is liked or disliked according to one’s taste. Bearing that in mind here are a few to ponder over, followed by why a certain bad cover is actually really great in a well reasoned essay by DJ M Bruce.
Suga by Kyle Dion
Over to you, DJ M Bruce:
I must take this opportunity to write in defense of an album cover which might be nominated as the worst by others: Black Sabbath’s Sabotage (1975). Maybe it is because I am not from that era, but 20 years after its release, when I discovered the album on CD in the bargain bin at Circuit City, I sure thought it was cool! (And at $8.99, how could I say no?) I loved the mirror echo effect on the front and the back, and for all I knew, rockers in the 70s were really into super tight red tights—who was I to judge? The scene comes off as a psychedelic yet awkward press conference. Compared to the grunge and post-grunge creepy-corny album covers of my youth (Facelift by Alice In Chains comes to mind), Sabotage seemed unique, trippy, and yet unpretentious. Ozzy’s kimono and heels just seal the deal for me. It was only much later that I read that people made fun of the cover, but I won’t be swayed—Sabotage is a work of art!
The Rock Spot is for everyone. If you have contenders for bad album art, or just want to chat about the people who influenced your music choices, or want to review a concert or album, or be like the Wowsville crew and send in your this-is-not-a-love-song-playlist, please send to anniedeblanco@gmail.com.
