Looking Back on the 90s Album Covers
Looking back on the 90s, album covers from various acts have become iconic. From XTC’s Go 2 to Green Day’s Dookie, these artists have shaped the way we see music forever. Here, we take a look at some of the band’s most iconic covers. Whether you’re a fan of the music of the decade or not, the covers of these bands will bring back happy memories.
XTC’s Go 2
The album cover for XTC’s Go 2 is almost a work of art. It features a piece of artwork that’s almost an inverse print of the album’s title. The album’s cover was designed by Hipgnosis, a design firm that specializes in album covers for rock artists. The group has also designed covers for the likes of AC/DC, Pink Floyd, and Paul McCartney.
Jane’s Addiction’s cover
During the 1990s, Jane’s Addiction were accused of violating public morality with their album cover. The cover was a provocative depiction of conjoined female twins with their heads on fire, and eight major chain stores refused to sell the album. In response, the band changed the album’s cover, resulting in a white, dippy album cover.
Green Day’s Dookie
Dookie is one of the most iconic album covers in history, and one that’s stayed with fans for a long time. The album’s cover art, drawn in coloured pencils, features a depiction of Telegraph Avenue in Berkeley, California. The image was created by East Bay punk Richie Bucher, who had previously worked with the band Soup.
Geto Boys’ Ritual de lo habitual
Despite its age, Geto Boys’ Ritual de lo Habitual remains a classic. The band was founded by Perry Farrell, who was previously a member of Psi Com, Stephen Perkins, and Eric Avery. Their first two albums, Nothing’s Shocking and Then She Did…, achieved success, establishing a niche for themselves in the post-punk scene. Their sound was both expansive and personal, retro and innovative, and satisfying. Unlike many of their peers, the band remained together throughout the band’s career, releasing two albums, Nothing’s Shocking and a self-titled live album, as well as the acclaimed Ritual de lo Habitual.
XTC’s School’s Out
XTC’s School’s Out was the band’s first chart-topping album, and Moulding was widely considered the band’s frontman. He was also known for his good looks, which helped attract female fans. Partridge wrote the song, which reached number 16 on the U.K. charts in late 1980. The band’s success helped them land some TV and radio spots. The band’s fanbase grew rapidly. The band even started an official fanzine called Limelight, which kept fans updated on the band’s releases, tour dates, merchandise sales, and band activity. Those days, there was no internet, so artists encouraged fanzines and other forms of media.
Alice Cooper’s School’s Out
The 1972 cover of Alice Cooper’s School’s Out album is a great example of creative thinking. It features the band’s lead singer, Vincent Furnier, lifting a wooden school desk. Inside are pencils, erasers, marbles, and even a quiz. The band also included an image of themselves on the cover.
Green Day’s School’s Out
The school-out theme is something that carries over into the album cover of Green Day’s latest record. The album is titled School’s Out, and is chock-full of flamboyant fare. And the album is no different: “School’s Out” ends with the band’s infamous Grande Finale.
Cannibal Corpse’s Go 2
The band’s new album, Go 2, is a return to their more traditional death metal sound. This time around, the band has a new vocalist in George Fisher. Before, the band had dabbled in more experimental rock, but they are back to their classic brutal death metal roots on this follow-up.
Pantera’s 31 punches
The cover of Pantera’s 31 punches album is one of the most iconic images of the 90s. The image, of a punk man punching a man, has become an urban legend. The band has never claimed to have actually hit the guy, but drummer Vinnie Paul has made the claim many times.
XTC’s Illinois
The album cover of XTC’s Illinois album is a great example of the band’s edginess. The cover depicts a state that has a long history with the English. The band’s name, XTC, comes from a Jimmy Durante quote, not from Ecstasy. The band’s songs are a blend of rock and pop.