spskins
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 3780
tn
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Posted on Aug 27 2008 11:49 AM
Man, between the cover of that German Surf Beat book and the Surf Drums DVD, the question of the day is why is the cover art of these so achingly awful? :puke:I can think of at least 3 or 4 artists on this board alone that do beautiful and relevant stuff that would look so much better, and, I daresay, would help sell more copies.
Of course, I'm appreciative of the hard work it took to put these out, but why not put the best face on it? It doesn't help garner more respect and acclaim for the genre and/or the contents of the book or dvd...
— http://www.satanspilgrims.com
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Satans-Pilgrims/8210228553
https://satanspilgrims.bandcamp.com/
http://www.surfyindustries.com
Last edited: Aug 27, 2008 15:20:28
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Stormtiger
Joined: Dec 12, 2006
Posts: 2684
Ventura, CA
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Posted on Aug 27 2008 12:10 PM
Since the advent of computers, everyone thinks they can be an artist or designer. Yet if you gave them a paintbrush, they wouldn't think they were Rembrandt. Are you referring to Martin Schmidt's book? He wasn't crazy about his cover, I think the publisher takes care of that end. Tracy Longstreth did the cover painting for the DVD it is competing with a lot of Photoshoppery, probably by someone with more computer training than art. No matter what you do though, you get a lot of folks who just won't like it.
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websurfer
Joined: May 14, 2007
Posts: 1753
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Posted on Aug 27 2008 12:31 PM
My own tastes tend to the traditional when it comes to the music _and _cover art. Most of the hip surf bands today seem to know and appreciate the history and aesthetics of 60s style graphic design and to reinterpret it in really cool ways on their album covers. I don't know if the artist/designers in question here are unaware of these traditions, or have just opted to reject them in favor of something new.
off topic:
Stormy, I read where you said you studied illustration at Cal State Long Beach. I was also in the illustration program 80-82. I imagine I must have bumped into you in the halls!
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Abe
Joined: Mar 12, 2008
Posts: 1237
Bay Area
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Posted on Aug 27 2008 01:05 PM
 I haven't seen the cover to that book, but the DVD i have seen. When I first saw the cover I didn't like it too much. The cover is from a painting the guy did and decided to put it on the cover. For the DVD I feel just a picture of an Old Drum kit would have been OK. Someeone post a pic of the Book.
— The Deadbeats
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DNAdude
Joined: Aug 01, 2008
Posts: 404
North Carolina
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Posted on Aug 27 2008 01:26 PM
My 1/2 cent worth is that all good surf/instro work (musical and graphic and anything else you can think of) needs to be aware of the tradition that it springs from. By all means interpret things in new ways and don't
turn what was done forty five years ago into a straitjackect but have respect for the original work and show that respect in what you do and in how you do it.
— Ralph
The Storm Surfers
Be at one with the universe. If you can't do that, at least be at one with your guitar.
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Kawentzmann
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 1062
Berlin, Germany
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Posted on Aug 27 2008 01:44 PM
Probably people consider it a small niche and thats their chance to present their talents (or their friends talents). Towards the end of my freelancing for indies in the retro field, the labels started to bow in to the bands who insisted to provide their own artwork. Yeah, they had gotten hold of a copy of Photoshop I guess.
— The Exotic Guitar of Kahuna Kawentzmann
You can get the boy out of the Keynes era, but you can’t get the Keynes era out of the boy.
Last edited: Aug 27, 2008 13:51:42
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DNAdude
Joined: Aug 01, 2008
Posts: 404
North Carolina
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Posted on Aug 27 2008 01:50 PM
That's a great point.
— Ralph
The Storm Surfers
Be at one with the universe. If you can't do that, at least be at one with your guitar.
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surfneptune
Joined: Mar 16, 2006
Posts: 923
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Posted on Aug 27 2008 01:56 PM
Stormtiger
Since the advent of computers, everyone thinks they can be an artist or designer. Yet if you gave them a paintbrush, they wouldn't think they were Rembrandt.
Boy isn't that the truth. And not only that, these folks are usually super sensitive to their "baby" Not having developed the skills to discuss and take a legit critique.
A good cover can sell a mediocre product, and bad art can kill a great product. Bands, if you aren't artists, please get a graphic designer to do the work, and give them the freedom to do what they do!
I think folks forget the power of image sometimes.
— THe NEpTuNeS
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Stormtiger
Joined: Dec 12, 2006
Posts: 2684
Ventura, CA
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Posted on Aug 27 2008 02:44 PM
image
Here's the cover of Surf Beat. I think I'm listed in there.
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Abe
Joined: Mar 12, 2008
Posts: 1237
Bay Area
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Posted on Aug 27 2008 02:52 PM
That one is OK.
— The Deadbeats
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Stormtiger
Joined: Dec 12, 2006
Posts: 2684
Ventura, CA
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Posted on Aug 27 2008 02:56 PM
. And not only that, these folks are usually super sensitive to their "baby" Not having developed the skills to discuss and take a legit critique.
The best thing about art school is that your work will get ripped to shreds by the class and the instructor. If it doesn't, you probably don't belong there in the first place. It is no place for the thin-skinned, although good work will get praised
it is the failures that you learn by.
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mom_surfing
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 5307
the outer banks of north carolina
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Posted on Aug 27 2008 03:43 PM
websurfer
My own tastes tend to the traditional when it comes to the music _and _cover art. Most of the hip surf bands today seem to know and appreciate the history and aesthetics of 60s style graphic design and to reinterpret it in really cool ways on their album covers. I don't know if the artist/designers in question here are unaware of these traditions, or have just opted to reject them in favor of something new.
off topic:
Stormy, I read where you said you studied illustration at Cal State Long Beach. I was also in the illustration program 80-82. I imagine I must have bumped into you in the halls!
did either of you ever have george zebot for a teacher???
— www.surfintheeye.com
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Double-Crown-Records
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 1224
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Posted on Aug 27 2008 03:57 PM
surfneptune
Stormtiger
A good cover can sell a mediocre product, and bad art can kill a great product. Bands, if you aren't artists, please get a graphic designer to do the work, and give them the freedom to do what they do!
That's it in a nutshell - after 11 years of doing this (as well as a few years before the label started where I was just doing fanzines) I can tell you this is 100% the truth.
I think with Double Crown we've done a pretty good job at balancing the wishes of the artist, the quality reputation of the label, and my own personal tastes. You can view all of our album covers on one page here:
Double Crown Full Label Discography
Obviously, my opinion is a little biased, but I'm proud of all of the releases. The only ones that I have some slight reservations about (strictly speaking about the cover art only) are our Nebulas CD (It's not bad, but I actually like the cover art of their other CD's and 7" better), and the new Bonney & Buzz CD (I was 50/50 with that one at first, but it's kinda grown on me over time - not a fan of the teal/baby blue color though....whoops, that's kinda the main color of this website!!! Sorry!!!).
I've been VERY fortunate over the years to be able to work with bands that have at least one graphic designer amongst 'em - saves $$$'s, plus it ensures that the band is happy with the result.
— Sean
Double Crown Records
www.doublecrownrecords.com
Surf CD's / Vinyl / Fanzines / DVD's
Aloha Screwdriver - Lunar Wobble CD
The Nebulas - Euphorion LP / CD
Supertubos - The Fourth Drive CD
Continental Magazine - Issue #38 w/17 Song CD
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websurfer
Joined: May 14, 2007
Posts: 1753
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Posted on Aug 27 2008 04:36 PM
mom_surfing
did either of you ever have george zebot for a teacher???
No. I mean it's been awhile, but I'm sure I didn't. How is it that you know about him?
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ElMonstroPorFavor
Joined: Sep 01, 2006
Posts: 2732
New Orleans, LA
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Posted on Aug 27 2008 04:57 PM
Wow thank you for saying this. As a DJ, poorly photoshopped covers with lens flare and obvious filter effects suggest cutting corners and cutting corners says poor recording quality. Poor recording quality means I don't want to play it despite how well written the songs are (and often suggests the songs aren't that good either).
Obviously these aren't always true, but do yourself a favor and trick people into thinking you're good, not bad.
— Storm Surge of Reverb: Surf & Instro Radio
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zak
Joined: Sep 24, 2007
Posts: 2728
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Posted on Aug 27 2008 05:50 PM
This post has been removed by the author.
Last edited: Sep 23, 2009 19:04:28
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outsides
Joined: Jul 08, 2006
Posts: 460
NorCal
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Posted on Aug 27 2008 06:03 PM
Not so much bad art as bad photography, direction or just plain old "What were they thinking"? 
The Hall Of Douchebags
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Stormtiger
Joined: Dec 12, 2006
Posts: 2684
Ventura, CA
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Posted on Aug 27 2008 06:20 PM
mom_surfing
websurfer
My own tastes tend to the traditional when it comes to the music _and _cover art. Most of the hip surf bands today seem to know and appreciate the history and aesthetics of 60s style graphic design and to reinterpret it in really cool ways on their album covers. I don't know if the artist/designers in question here are unaware of these traditions, or have just opted to reject them in favor of something new.
off topic:
Stormy, I read where you said you studied illustration at Cal State Long Beach. I was also in the illustration program 80-82. I imagine I must have bumped into you in the halls!
did either of you ever have george zebot for a teacher???
You're kidding me! I graduated in '83 but I actually finished most of the work earlier. I didn't take a class with George but he taught while I was there. He did beautiful watercolors for Voit, people swimming with their fins and such. I had classes advanced illustration classes Dick Oden of course, Marv Rubin, Robert Pryor. I was a commuter student and was only around during classes.
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DannySnyder
Joined: Mar 02, 2006
Posts: 11057
Berkeley, CA
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Posted on Aug 27 2008 06:32 PM
zak
Hard to beat this for bad cover art...great comp, awful cover.
image
You should clarify that further Zak. Great songs - lousy comp. They spliced some crappy live party sounds in between the songs instead of silent gaps. WTF were they thinking?
— Danny Snyder
"With great reverb comes great responsibility" - Uncle Leo
Playing keys and guitar with Combo Tezeta
Formerly a guitarist in The TomorrowMen and Meshugga Beach Party
Latest surf project - Now That's What I Call SURF
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PolloGuitar
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 5097
San Francisco
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Posted on Aug 27 2008 06:36 PM
outsides
Not so much bad art as bad photography, direction or just plain old "What were they thinking"?
The Hall Of Douchebags
Santa Rosa's own Seventh Day Rototiller-- great band, did some surf music, some tiki stuff. Lead writer was perrenial Presidential canidate Pat Paulsen's son.
http://www.rockandrollconfidential.com/hall/hall_detail.php?dd_keyid=278
— Buy Speed of Dark @ Bandcamp
Buy Spin the Bottle @ Bandcamp
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