This is the Digipack for the indie rock group 'Arctic Monkeys'. This was their third studio released album which was released 19th August 2009. A digipack looks like it would be the best fitting album case for the Arctic Monkeys as their not very mainstream and always like to be different. Therefore doing the jewel case would be too normal for them and wouldn't suit their style.
The CD is contained like a normal jewel case but the material of the case is different. Quiet often a digipack is made from recycled card, which also shines a good light on the band to show they're doing their bit for the environment. The front cover image is the bad, one member standing and two sat down, taking no notice to the camera, just each other. they all seem to be wearing dark jeans, whilst one is wearing a denim jacket and the others white hoodies. The background is black with a what seems to be a white wall of some sort at the side. There is a sepia effect on the picture, and as you turn over the case, the sepia effect carries on. Even though the background here is a plain white, the sepia gives is a creamish looking effect. From the look of the clours and case, they connote the bad are happy to sit back and relax. They dont use bright 'in your face' colours, they're happy to show what they feel, and their true fans will buy their music. No sybols or signs are used on the case so theres no need to decode anything.
The main image on the case is the band which is represented photographically. And in the middle of the image is the name 'Arctic Monkeys' which is say is about size 16 in text, with a text font similar to 'Texan Pro Bold'. And the back of the case says the title of the album 'Humbug' then underneath 'Arctic Monkeys' again in a wild wide font in red to contrast with all the other black text. Then underneath that two columns of the song titles featured on the album, which is above the copyright information at the bottom of the album.
I'd say the messages shown on the album case are primarily visual and verbal. The image shows us who the band is, yet the text and the font instantly shows us a little more about the band. The font hints to us that the band can be slightly quirky yet up for some fun. The audience the album are purely for the people who enjoy the bands music. For anyone else who doesn't listen or like the music, the digipak isn't screaming out 'buy me' to them as it has Arctic Monkeys own unique style to it. This makes it more precious to the people who do by the album as they appreciate it that little bit more. The digipak doesn't tell you much about the institutional context of the album.
After looking at this album cover/digipak for the first time I have decided I really like it. It clearly shows the true colours of the band and i believe it's a perfect type of album covering and design for them. People who are buying the CD obviously know the band pretty well and straight away they would understand the layout and design of the digipak which shows it communicates well with them. In no way is the digipack offensive and there are no alternative readings which mights harm the message of the marketing campaign.
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