Friday 28 September 2012

NEW SINGLE ARTWORK : dawn richard - 86'

NEW SINGLE ARTWORK : calvin harris - sweet nothing (ft. florence welch)

Calvin has been producing some pretty straight forward artworks for his '18 months' era - but this photography is flawless, simonsez approves!

NEW ALBUM ARTWORK : olly murs - right place right time

For Olls' US debut he has deicded not to re-release his 'In Case You Didn't Know' album (a la Cher Lloyd), but in fact release a whole new album. The cover is a pretty standard Murs-affair...the title scrawled everywhere, like a chalkboard..yadda yadda... He looks cute though :P

NEW SINGLE ARTWORK : mario - killa

Mario is set to release a new album in the coming months, starting things off with buzz track 'Killa' - no doubt to drum up a little more of an online buzz he has teamed the song with two covers. One cover is nice enough, if a little bland...the other is...well...a little ratchet.


Check out the alternate, NSFW version below...

NEW SINGLE ARTWORK : skylar grey - building a monster

NEW SINGLE ARTWORK : taylor swift - begin again

On the run up to the release of new album 'Red' - Taylor is releasing buzz singles onto iTunes, this first being 'Begin Again'.

NEW SINGLE ARTWORK : frank ocean - blue whale

Released as a buzz track on his tumblr page, Ocean keeps it subdued with this artwork:

Wednesday 26 September 2012

NEW LIMITED EDITION ARTWORK : amy winehouse - at the bbc

This is certainly an interesting piece - the BBC have compiled a new boxset (in association with the "Amy Winehouse Foundation") consisting of 3 DVDs and a CD, celebrating the relationship they had with her and her music throughout her short lived career. The boxset will feature "beautifully illustrated booklet featuring rare photographs, a deeply touching appreciation from her friend, rap superstar, Nas and extensive sleeve notes by the Sunday Times Culture's Dan Cairns".


The first DVD disc will include live and acoustic recordings chosen by long time supporter and fan, Jools Holland (Amy appeared on his "Later" show many a-time), the second DVD will be her full set at Porchester Hall, the third DVD disc will be the documentary 'Amy Winehouse - The Day She Came To Dingle' (this features an interview with the artist herself intercut with a 20-minute set performed in a tiny church) and finally the CD features live recordings taking place from 2004 to 2009.


UPDATE : It was announced today that this release would also come in a 2-Disc format, which would include the 14 track CD and DVD of 'Amy Winehouse - The Day She Came To Dingle'. Check the artwork below:

Tuesday 25 September 2012

NEW EP & BACK COVER ARTWORK : d. woods - my favourite colour : volume 1

So, from Ke$ha making colourful and gaudy work...to a Danity Kane alum making it fall flat on it's ass for her latest EP release:



p.s. What is it with chicks splashing around in the paint and thinking it looks hot??

! updated ! NEW ALBUM & DELUXE EDITION ARTWORK : ke$ha - warrior (standard, deluxe & fan edition)

So! When I posted about the 'Die Young' single artwork and the 'Warrior' album artwork, I got the album art a lil' muddled...let me set the record straight:

This is the garish, gaudy and great STANDARD EDITION album art:


And this is in fact the rainbow, retina-burning DELUXE EDITION artwork. Get it. Got it? Good. 


Alsoooooo - as an apology for my mistake, I'mma let you in on a secret FAN EDITION that Ms. Dollar sign will also be releasing (exclusively on her website). This is set to include the deluxe version of the album, a bonus EP of acoustic tracks and a T-shirt. Yum!

NEW DELUXE EDITION ARTWORK : rebecca ferguson - heaven (deluxe edition)

FOR GOODNESS SAKE! Who is in charge of Bex's artwork design? Who OK'd the placement of the type on this? It's awful!

NEW REMIX EP ARTWORK : justin bieber - as long as you love me (remixes) (ft. big sean)

NEW SINGLE ARTWORK : cher lloyd - oath (ft. becky g)

Cher is looking flawless in all the US release artworks! 'Oath' is another to add to the list, giving us some Rihanna 'Loud'-era rose realness...

NEW SINGLE ARTWORK : taio cruz - fastcar

NEW SINGLE ARTWORK : paloma faith - never tear us apart

This song is bringing a tear to many an eye after being used in the latest John Lewis advert and the artwork is also bringing on simonsez's happy tears! 

p.s. Check out Paloma working it at the artwork photoshoot here.

Monday 24 September 2012

NEW DELUXE EDITION ARTWORK : lana del rey - born to die : the paradise edition

Yes, yes, yes, yes! This makes up for the meh-ish 'Ride' artwork and more. Can't wait to be slayed by the inside artwork and to fully experience that gold foil realness being used on the type!!

NEW SINGLE ARTWORK : ludacris - representin (ft. kelly rowland)

NEW SINGLE ARTWORK : kylie - flower

NEW SINGLE ARTWORK : azealia banks - esta noche (ft. munchi)

Loving the image, not feeling the half-faded out type :/ Azzy is usually on point with her visuals (see: Her videos for 'Liquorice', '1991' and 'Van Vogue')...at least the song is straight fyahhhh!

NEW EP ARTWORK : wynter gordon - human condition : sanguine

The artwork for the second part of the 'Human Condition' series has been unveiled and it is...different. Love how brave Ms. Gordon is being with the sound and vision of these EPs - something different to enjoy.

NEW SINGLE & LOGO ARTWORK : rihanna - diamonds

"That Rihanna reign just won't let up."

Onto the next album it is then! Riri has unveiled the artwork for new single 'Diamonds' and I love it!! It's like someone took one of her Instagram photos of her smoking a fat blunt and scrawled across it. It's ghetto fab and your fave could never.

p.s. Seriously being serious, I actually do love it - hoping the album artwork has such strong visuals throughout it all. But, I'm hoping the black 'n' white isn't done to death, this needs to feel different from 'Talk That Talk's artwork.


Check out a HQ version of that new take on the "R" logo - love that she's keeping that on as a moniker <3

NEW SINGLE ARTWORK : lana del rey - blue velvet & ride

Larnsy-boo has been signed a lucrative deal with H&M for their latest ad campaign, not only as the face of their new range but also she has recorded a cover of 'Blue Velvet' - check out the simple cover below:


In other (and more interesting) Del Rey news, the first single from the 'Born To Die : Paradise Edition' re-release has been announced - 'Ride'. The artwork doesn't have that usual Lana glow about it, but she can do no-wrong in my eyes, so I'll look over any minor type placement mishaps it includes....

NEW DELUXE EDITION ARTWORK : leona lewis - glassheart (deluxe edition)

Even though this era has been alllllll over the place release-wise, she's still keeping on with the visual theme throughout all the artworks...simonsez likes!

NEW DELUXE EDITION ARTWORK : cher lloyd - sticks & stones (US edition) (deluxe edition)

Cher is poised to release her debut 'Sticks + Stones' stateside (try saying that with a lisp...) and has just announced that it will also be in a deluxe edition as well - including new tracks and all versions of all this era's singles!

Wednesday 19 September 2012

NEW SINGLE & ALBUM ARTWORK : ke$ha - die young & warrior (+ NEW LOGO ARTWORK)

SIT DOWN AND SHUT UP AS MS. K$ IS ABOUT TO SLAY YOU ALL! A few days ago she announced new single 'Die Young' with an impromptu performance on a Tokyo train...so kooky!...and the new artwork - see below. (I'm getting elements of a sexed-up Nelly Furtado's 'Folklore'..anyone else?)


AND THEN! Today, the glitter vomit princess unleashed this tacky-but-oh-so-good album cover for her next release 'Warrior'! It's colourful, it's abusive to all five senses, it's a bad trip and it's my new fave :) Who else could pull this off?


Also, I couldn't finish this Ke$ha post without mentioning that flaw-free new logo. Get into it below:

NEW REMIX SINGLE ARTWORK : britney spears - till the world ends (twister remix)

I know it's only a promo single...but this artwork is seriously offending my sense of sight. Did not one of Brit's team think to step in and say "Hol' up, hol' up, hol' up, holllll' up! This looks like shit!". No one?

NEW ALBUM ARTWORK : calvin harris - 18 months

NEW ALBUM ARTWORK : dawn richard - goldenheart

LOVE Dawn's hustle - after being left stranded by Diddy, Ms. Richard released the awesome EP 'Armor On' and now is set to unleash a full length debut album in the form of 'Goldenheart'. The artwork is reminiscent of that Ashanti promo pic from last year...but who remembers that but simonsez?! One thing I'd change is how close the title is to her face, only a minor gripe :P Overall two thumbs up from me:

NEW EP ARTWORK : sky ferreira - ghost

Sky's latest cover features a photograph by famed fashion photographer Hedi Slimane (who shot Gaga for her delicious 'The Fame Monster' artwork...which the type of this cover reflects ever so slightly) - have loved Ms. Ferreira for some time and very excited for this release!

NEW SINGLE ARTWORK : conor maynard - turn around (ft. ne-yo)

NEW ALBUM ARTWORK : little mix - DNA

I'm getting Pop Art/comic book realness from the debut album artwork of X Factor UK's last winner, Little Mix. Really looking forward to hearing what they serve up with this release...

NEW ALBUM ARTWORK : faith evans - R&B divas

Sorry I have been a little off with posting recently, getting back into Uni work after summer and trying to remember how to timetable my days haha!

ANYWHO! Faith Evans is releasing an album of collaborations with R&B's brightest stars (such as Fantasia) and the simple - if ever so slightly too safe - artwork is below:

Sunday 16 September 2012

NEW SINGLE ARTWORK : one direction - live while we're young

LOOK HOW MUCH FUN 1D ARE HAVING - DON'TCHA JUST WANNA CAMP WITH THEM IN A FIELD?!

NEW SINGLE ARTWORK : dappy - good intentions

The Dapster gives us chav chic in the latest single artwork from album 'Bad Intentions'...

NEW ALBUM ARTWORK : ryan leslie - les is more

Ryan Leslie - super talented producer responsible for Cassie's whole debut album - keeps it simple and sexy in black for his latest album cover for 'Les Is More':


Interesting side note, the embroidery was hand crafted by "The Royal School of Needlework" at Hampton Court Palace, which holds The Royal Patronage (support and use) of Queen Elizabeth II - Leslie ain't playing this go around!


Also, he has been releasing lil' teaser promo shots (see below) of what other visuals we can expect, he's giving us black 'n' gold, money and power!


Friday 14 September 2012

NEW SINGLE ARTWORK : misha b - do you think of me

Loving this song! So glad Misha is getting a chance to shine - even though she didn't win her series of X Factor UK.

Thursday 13 September 2012

NEW SINGLE ARTWORK : nicki minaj - the boys (ft. cassie)

! updated ! NEW SINGLE ARTWORK : cassie - balcony (ft. young jeezy)

So, Ms. Ventura has decided to update the artwork for latest release 'Balcony' - from this to the just-as-buzz-single-looking cover below - this time the design has separated the "NY" of "Balcony", in a way of linking in the song's theme...sex on a balcony in the middle of New York. Well done everyone involved, graphic design at it's best...

NEW DELUXE EDITION ARTWORK : p!nk - the truth about love (target edition)

US superstore giant Target have earned the exclusive rights to the specially expanded version of P!nk's latest release 'The Truth About Love' - which will include a bonus disc of 4 new songs. Check out the slightly reworked cover below: