We kick off our Year in Review section of 2025 with the first feature in the Best of... wrap up: Album Art.
Just like in years past, we will be choosing our favorite albums of the year, a few that were underwhelming, our favorite live shows, and highlight some fantastic archive releases, all of which will be posted over the next few days.
Today we are starting out by judging books (records) by their covers (vinyl sleeves, jackets, digital pics, etc) with our Favorite Album Art Work of 2025.
Sure there may be great album art out there but seeing it on a screen, on Spotify or elsewhere is nothing compared to holding an LP or even a CD booklet with pages of lyrics, pictures etc.
Thankfully the rise of vinyl is helping this dilemma but it is still not enough. The hours we spent staring, actually holding, examining tons of covers while listening to music can't be adequately recorded, it added new dimensions to the sounds. You are connected to album in a more physical way; things were deeper, more evocative...Anyways...
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The album art fits the sound, with layers and layers of music stitched together and crazy font/writing.
Mdou Moctar - Tears of Injustice
Total Con - Who Needs The Peace Corp?
Any year Mdou Moctar release an album it will probably be on this list. Each of the past releases have been, as RtBE loves the band's visual style.
Sometimes a cover tells you exactly what you are getting. That is the case with the no frills. DIY aggression on this killer record.
The Zamrockers return and the album cover is a delight.
This is a standout cover with excellent art design from the NOLA rapper.
Staying in NOLA, Big Freedia's gospel record has an excellent cover.
One more for the Big Easy as Boyfriend's theatrical cover spoke to the music on the record perfectly.
A cool drawing of a snapping turtle (the title of the best song on the record) colors the vibrant Planting By The Signs.
Kinda creepy, kinda fun and playful...both the album cover and the album.
A retro looking board game ad is a great cover from the Brooklyn based artist who actually made a board game to go along with the record.
An overloaded cover speaks to his music this go around as David Byrne went all out for this album, album art and his videos for Who Is The Sky?:
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