DigiPak analysis

Analysis of Mumford And Sons- Sigh No More album
Mumford And Sons- Sigh No More album cover analysis 

This album cover is both well targeted to the target audience of Mumford And Sons but also conveys the genre and album content very well-

Ø The genre of the music is shown through the representation of the band, particularly through the use of costume (clothing). This is because key parts of the costume such as a checked shirt and waist-coat reflect the country (rustic) side of the band and their style of music. The use of prop-various guitars and a cello instantly lets the audience know the style of the music and also the content of the album, paired with the band members holding them also gives off a sense of their personalities (characteristics within the content).

Ø Being ‘displayed’ in a shop window shows the band as a group of individual’s humorous and ‘playful’ side which can be seen slightly in the content of the album. The use of a display also gives off a sense of the seriousness of some of the content (e.g. Thistle & Weeds and I Gave You All), both dealing with religion and love-reflecting the genre (country music being associated widely with Christianity and love).

Ø The main target audience for the country band being early twenties to early thirties means that the use of the above (what the album reflects) shows this very effective, the subtle use of colour and the almost vintage looking/style of shops in which the main image is set reflects the almost ‘maturity’ of the album content and the audience their targeting. Furthermore, the use of expensive looking clothing (instruments, props/costume) used on the band members (can be seen in the enlarged image) suggests the target audience/wealth/maturity of the target audience as well as content further. 

Ø The album cover becomes effective in design as the predominant use of neutral colours (e.g. white, grey) means that the use of bright colours in the bands costume (the window there in) allows them to stand out as the main focus of the album, paired with the contrasting colour of the album and band name at the bottom centrally. This means that even though the image gives off a vintage/country feel, the band still become the main focus over the setting (shop/street their placed within)

Mumford And Sons- back cover analysis 

Ø The back cover of the album is fairly basic with a main focus on the track listing and a window (centrally within the image as a key aspect visually) and the text/font of the track list standing out due to its size and colour (also being in capitals). This means a focus on the music other than the band, both suggesting that the album itself is focusing on the music/content more than the artists producing it. This suggests the track list/content is a large enough persuader to purchase the album (suggesting existing fans are more ‘keen’ for the content).

Ø The cover itself being predominantly white (due to the white brick building image set as the background) meaning that the subtle colour scheme is carried on from the front cover, keeping up the more ‘mature’ feel of the album (country/vintage feel)

Ø The use of the window as a main visual aspect of the back cover could suggest either new possibilities (for the content or band) or even a ‘window of opportunities’-for both fans and potential target audiences, looking at the tracks and the window at the same time (both the main visual aspects of the cover) meaning the suggestion of possibly a new ‘sound’ or content to the last album 

Mumford And Sons- inside album artwork analysis

The inside of the album (artwork) is a similar basic, subtle colour scheme as the front and back cover, the use of off white (cream) paired with the vintage shop setting (front cover and image inside) means that the county, 'mature' feel is carried throughout.

The CD itself being the darkest block colour (black) throughout the album artwork allows it to become somewhat a main 'focus', standing out. Being fairly basic with a focus on the band and album name in a vintage styled text follows on the theme from the front and back cover. The vintage/country styled design placed at the bottom of the CD centrally both gives off that 'country' feel of the album/genre/band as well as a sense of the bands 'individuality' as a country band (straying slightly  from the typical stereotype-being more individual as a band-through personality and their music).  A similar design is on the far left cover of the inside artwork, meaning a link to the album as well as reinforcing the individuality of the country band. 

This image being central to the inside artwork (in layout and visual interest) means that a focus is forced onto the band members other than the music (as it is on the back cover). This means that when opening the artwork once purchasing it-the audience is 'reminded' of who has produced the content. The use of the vintage store (street) windows both links back to the front and back cover and reinforces the vintage/country feel. Not only does the use of setting do this in the image but also the bands costume and props, looking rather relaxed reflecting both them as individuals as well as the content (in the sense that it is mostly written about love and religion-meaning very personal to the band members). This also gives an almost 'inviting' feel to the purchaser, as if the band members are welcoming them to listen to the content, the body language and positioning of the members giving this off. This image linking back to the outside artwork of the album means that the country, yet individual feel is carried out throughout, the individual aspect of the band being shown in this image through the use of 'indie' costume and the bands setting/positions.