ARTICLE JUMP
This one is tough because honestly, people really outdid themselves this year with the record packaging for their releases. Seriously, even the CD's had some stellar entries into this foray, with some being excellent on both LP and CD. There probably could be a list about ten or fifteen favorites.
- Earth - The Bees Made Honey In the Lions Skull (Southern Lord) 2xLP
- Aughra - Proof of Dark Matter | Light the Lights (Magic Bullet) Limited Wood Box LP
- Isis - Shades of the Swarm (Robotic Empire) LP Boxset
- Torche - Meanderthal (Hydra Head) CD
- Helms Alee - Helms Alee (Rome Plow) EP
Seriously, I think this wins hands down. The double LP set for The Bees Made Honey in the Lions Skull looks like a Bible with the faux leather cover. The record jackets themselves are bound to the cover with the beautiful artwork for the album. If you get one record this year because of the packaging, this is it; luckily the album itself is great too.
Another great looking package for an LP, Aughra's Proof of Dark Matter | Light the Lights limited LP release comes in a sharp looking wooden box. I am not sure if these were all assembled by hand, but if they were that makes this album all the more impressive.
The total studio output of Isis over their ten-year history. Robotic Empire sums it up... "Eight albums over twelve records are contained on 180 gram black vinyl, each housed within individual sleeves utilizing artwork taken and re-worked from the original sources, all displayed through a clear spot gloss on heavyweight sleeves. These accompany an oversized 12" x 36" poster insert, all housed within an extremely sturdy cloth-bound, foil-stamped black box." This is truly stunning to see.
For a CD, the packaging on this is great. A plastic insert with some of the craziest (something from some acid induced nightmare) artwork that Aaron Turner has produced to date. The CD and the tray artwork all work cohesively to form a nice whole. The downside is that sometimes the insert is a pain in the ass to put back.
Helms Alee's self-titled first record is a one sided LP. I enjoy the packaging of this a great deal. It is simple (two versions both with their own simplicity), very stark, and pretty. The b-side is blessed with a scenic etching provided by one Faith Coloccia (of Mammifer) that just completes the whole release just about perfectly and makes me like this release a bit better than the full-length that the band released shortly thereafter.
(Bob)
