# Cover Art! Vote for your favorite! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 19, 2011, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-art-vote-for-your-favorite/593380 "2011-08-19T22:38:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cryptic\_C62](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@Cryptic\_C62](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cryptic_C62)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2011, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-art-vote-for-your-favorite/593380/1 "2011-08-19T22:38:38Z")
Ahoy, dopers! After many months of hard work and waiting for pieces to come together, I’ve finally got everything I need to release my first studio album, “Ready or Not”. A friend developed a few different options for the cover art, and I decided to let the internets decide which one gets used. Have a look and let me know which one you like best. You’re also welcome to provide specific feedback if you’re so inclined. If it is of any interest, the title track can be heard [here](http://ryanmalloy.bandcamp.com/track/ready-or-not). [Artwork #1](http://www.flickr.com/photos/38340361@N04/6060497364/) [Artwork #2](http://www.flickr.com/photos/38340361@N04/6059946495/) [Artwork #3](http://www.flickr.com/photos/38340361@N04/6060497450/) ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2011, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-art-vote-for-your-favorite/593380/2 "2011-08-19T23:07:59Z")
In order of preference: 2,3,1 ---
**Author:** ![antonio107](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7ea924/32.png) [@antonio107](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/antonio107)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2011, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-art-vote-for-your-favorite/593380/3 "2011-08-19T23:55:29Z")
In my musicology background, the “post-phallic rock guitar” was well documented by my colleagues. I think number three looks the most tasteful. Then number 1. Then 2. Seriously? It looks like you’re using your guitar as a sniper rifle in number two…it’s kinda weird! ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2011, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-art-vote-for-your-favorite/593380/4 "2011-08-20T00:05:33Z")
1, 3, 2 For whatever reason, seeing you do guitar-rifle makes me wonder if you actually know how to hold/play the thing. ---
**Author:** ![antonio107](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7ea924/32.png) [@antonio107](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/antonio107)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2011, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-art-vote-for-your-favorite/593380/5 "2011-08-20T00:11:12Z")
As for your song… I don’t listen to enough rock music to know what’s good, what makes a hit, etc. My background is classical, but I know enough rocker friends and guys who do fusion and prog rock to have a GENERAL idea of how these things are supposed to sound. The biggest deficit to my ears was a lack of drums. I could hear some percussion going on the side of the guitar I’m guessing, but it wasn’t enough for me. Also, it’s a dickish thing to mention someone’s voice, yet for some reason it didn’t fit with the song. I feel personally that it needs to have that “raw,” “throaty” sound with it. Like a Bruce Springsteen, Tom Waits, or even a Brian Johnson. I don’t know enough about the vocal style to know if this is something you can learn or not, but I’m working under the assumption that it is! Anyways, you probably don’t care about my opinion, and that’s cool. No offense was intended. But those were just the things that came to my ear after a first listen! ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2011, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-art-vote-for-your-favorite/593380/6 "2011-08-20T00:19:08Z")
1 Joe ---
**Author:** ![Arrendajo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Arrendajo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arrendajo)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2011, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-art-vote-for-your-favorite/593380/7 "2011-08-20T00:29:13Z")
I like 1 best. Don’t care for the guitar as rifle shot, and I like your name right side up too. I’m at work so can’t listen to the music, but will when I get home. Good luck. You having a CD release party? ---
**Author:** ![Dahnlor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dahnlor/32/533_2.png) [@Dahnlor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dahnlor)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2011, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-art-vote-for-your-favorite/593380/8 "2011-08-20T00:32:34Z")
I like #1, mostly due to the lighting on the photo, and the lettering fits the image well. The other two don’t look like real album covers to me. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2011, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-art-vote-for-your-favorite/593380/9 "2011-08-20T00:39:22Z")
#1. Nice composition, nice colours, doesn’t try to be anything more than what it is, and probably reflects the content of the album. ---
**Author:** ![rjk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ed655f/32.png) [@rjk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjk)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2011, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-art-vote-for-your-favorite/593380/10 "2011-08-20T03:20:05Z")
I decided to post a reply before reading the other opinions. I usually disagree with most people on this sort of thing, but **Zyada** is with me here. #2 is too posed-looking and fake. #3 is good, but not for the sound of the sample track; it looks more mellow and intimate. That leaves #1. The backlighting and harsh contrast perfectly set off the assertiveness (aggressiveness?) of the music. Now I’ll go read the thread to see how wrong everybody else is. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2011, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-art-vote-for-your-favorite/593380/11 "2011-08-20T13:21:35Z")
3, 1, 2 ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2011, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-art-vote-for-your-favorite/593380/12 "2011-08-20T15:34:50Z")
I’d vote 1 then 3. I’d vote against 2. It looks like you’ve just picked up a guitar for the first time and you’re trying to figure out how it works. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2011, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-art-vote-for-your-favorite/593380/13 "2011-08-20T16:12:08Z")
1,3 … 2 ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2011, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-art-vote-for-your-favorite/593380/14 "2011-08-20T16:39:35Z")
Definitely #1. It looks most like a classic rock album cover. #3 would be a good fit if the whole album sounded like the first 30 seconds. Speaking of the music itself, I think it could benefit from the big rock sound a whole band could provide (with drums, bass, etc.). ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2011, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-art-vote-for-your-favorite/593380/15 "2011-08-20T16:41:19Z")
#1. Good balance of letters and image. ---
**Author:** ![YaraMateo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/58f4c7/32.png) [@YaraMateo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YaraMateo)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2011, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-art-vote-for-your-favorite/593380/16 "2011-08-20T16:44:07Z")
> [@antonio107](#): > > In my musicology background, the “post-phallic rock guitar” was well documented by my colleagues. I think number three looks the most tasteful. Then number 1. Then 2. > > Seriously? It looks like you’re using your guitar as a sniper rifle in number two…it’s kinda weird! Number two looks like a really bad Johnny Cash impression. I’m picking three. Seems like the most natural. Was that the look you were going for, though? I think they’d all look better with more lighting. I think you might being going for the dark mysterious thing, but they just look they have unintentional bad lighting. ---
**Author:** ![YaraMateo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/58f4c7/32.png) [@YaraMateo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YaraMateo)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2011, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-art-vote-for-your-favorite/593380/17 "2011-08-20T16:50:41Z")
I gave it a listen. I would call this more of a country song… It didn’t really sound like a rock song to me. Do you you really need the first like 30 seconds? It really drags the song down. Gonna be honest, I clicked out after the first two minutes. You’re a not a bad singer, but the sing didn’t hold my interest. Like I said, I wouldn’t call it rock if someone asked me. ---
**Author:** ![tonyfop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/85f322/32.png) [@tonyfop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tonyfop)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2011, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-art-vote-for-your-favorite/593380/18 "2011-08-20T16:53:28Z")
I like #1. Don’t like the rifle pose, and also don’t like the image of you looking at the guitar while you play. Both evoke the feeling that you don’t know how to play… ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2011, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-art-vote-for-your-favorite/593380/19 "2011-08-20T17:06:29Z")
1, 3, 2. The rifle thing in #2 makes you look immature. ---
**Author:** ![picker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/picker/32/13969_2.png) [@picker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picker)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2011, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-art-vote-for-your-favorite/593380/20 "2011-08-20T18:13:36Z")
1, 3, 2. You need to have a pro engineer (a different one) revisit your overall mix. Then a pro mastering engineer (different person). That’s me speaking as a longtime engineer and producer. As a musician, the playing is pretty good, and the song is solid enough. But have an unbiased third party look at the production itself. You can PM me if you like for more details. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-art-vote-for-your-favorite/593380.md?page=2)