Feature / Music
2009: A Year In Review

Words: Mitchell • Posted pre-2010

Worst Cover Art of 2009

ARTICLE JUMP

Another year, another poor collection of excused for album sleeves. Without any further ado, let's dive in.

Morrissey - Years Of Refusal

Bad Cover Art 2009

This poor kid. Number one, he's in close proximity to Morrissey, which means the grumpy singer probably lambasted the kid for eating non-vegan baby food or something. Number two, Morrissey is touching his gooch. This cover does have the advantage of broadcasting the fantasy that Morrissey's female fans want to imagine: him as the father of their child. Not even Justin Timberlake could get away with that one - kudos.

Capital - Blind Faith

Bad Cover Art 2009

The font on this looks like a Cyndi Lauper record, and the photo makes it resemble a 1983 Irish Nationalist LP consisting of covers of Arthur McBride and The Fields of Athenry.

NOFX - Coaster

Bad Cover Art 2009

Very clever, very postmodern. It still looks ugly as sin, though.

Gallows - Grey Britain

Bad Cover Art 2009

Come on guys, this had potential. You could have had a bleak shot of a grimy council estate somewhere up north, but instead you picked the White Rose of York and a 'grungy' Union Flag. This probably took a Photoshop kid about two minutes to throw together and looks cheap and lazy. Sorry.

Green Day - 21st Century Breakdown

Bad Cover Art 2009

A poor man's Banksy. Next.

Rancid - Let The Dominoes Fall

Bad Cover Art 2009

While you'd be a fool to expect Rancid to do anything surprising or out of character, let's face it: you could have drawn this record sleeve with your eyes closed six months before it came out and you'd have got it spot own, down to Tim Armstrong's fucking cobweb tattoo.

Chickenfoot - Chickenfoot

Bad Cover Art 2009

Are we in 1999 again? The nu-metal backwards letter thing seems to be back. As for using your band's not-very-original logo as the sole artwork for your album: 0/10 for effort.

The Mars Volta - Octahedron

Bad Cover Art 2009

It wouldn't be a SPB bad covers article without a Mars Volta entry, and this one is no exception. Maybe I'm not into psych rock enough to 'get' it, but this looks like the dreams of a six year old on acid.

Death By Stereo - Death is my Only Friend

Bad Cover Art 2009

I don't think any words are necessary.

(Matt)

Related features

Endless Mike and the Beagle Club

One Question Interviews • November 26, 2025

Mike Miller (Endless Mike and the Beagle Club) SPB; Why “The Beagle Club”? Do you have a favorite breed of dog? Miller: Looks like we get two questions for the One Question Interview. Love it. Why the Beagle Club? My friend Joe used to live on Beagle Club Road. At … Read more

PANEL

One Question Interviews • November 25, 2025

Annie Sparrows (PANEL) SPB: What does the name PANEL mean to you? Sparrows: I feel like PANEL is an aesthetically pleasing 5 letter word with multiple meanings that, in different contexts, appeal to me. "Panel of experts," as in everyone's a critic. "Wood panel," as in something nice looking that … Read more

Cheap Perfume

One Question Interviews • November 24, 2025

Jane No (Cheap Perfume - guitar/co-vocals) SPB: How has the band’s mission or message evolved since when you first formed? Jane No: When we started, our focus was feminist rage, calling out sexism and celebrating women’s power. That’s still who we are, but over time we’ve zoomed out to see … Read more

Fest 23 – The Wrap

Music / Fest 23 • November 15, 2025

Pure Joy The 23rd FEST in Gainesville, Florida recently wrapped up. Scene Point Blank has been to the majority of them over the past two decades, beginning at FEST 5. I've personally attended roughly half of them. And at FEST 23, I saw 44 bands in 3 days (an even … Read more

The Saints

Interviews • November 14, 2025

As The Skids sang, The Saints are coming!.......Storming North America! The Saints ’73-’78 land on North American soil in early November and will feature original Saints members, guitarist Ed Kuepper and drummer Ivor Hay, and filling out this lineup is singer Mark Arm (Mudhoney), guitarist Mick Harvey (The Birthday Party … Read more

More from this section

Fest 23 – The Wrap

Music / Fest 23 • November 15, 2025

Pure Joy The 23rd FEST in Gainesville, Florida recently wrapped up. Scene Point Blank has been to the majority of them over the past two decades, beginning at FEST 5. I've personally attended roughly half of them. And at FEST 23, I saw 44 bands in 3 days (an even … Read more

FEST LIBS 23 & Fest Moments

Music / Fest 23 • October 18, 2025

Are you ready for The Fest!? While we’re pretty sure you’re already counting down days until your trek to Gainesville, FL, we’ve got some Fest games for you to play, including a few samples from this year’s performers. Click here to play FEST LIBS -- like a fill-in-the-blanks word game … Read more

Guest List: ADD Records Picks 5 Favorite Leatherface Songs

Music / The Set List • October 18, 2025

This summer Little Rocket Records announced Leatherface: The Peel Sessions, a collection of live studio recordings with Leatherface from the 1990s with the late John Peel. While Little Rocket handled the release, ADD Records took on US distribution for a limited release. Available from ADD records here As Leatherface means … Read more