I saw a few posts about this in the Backspacer preview thread and it got me thinking. Whats the best album cover or overall artwork?

For me the best cover is a toss up between Yield and No Code. The Yield cover is just so simple yet works so perfectly. With No Code I'm just intrigued by all the polaroids that makeup the entire cover, I remember the first time I opened up the album and noticed the pattern that made the big No Code symbol on the front I was so amazed(It looks incredible when you open the vinyl version)

Best overall artwork(booklet etc..) has to go to Vitalogy hands down. Ed's handwritten lyrics, the anatomy pictures and the fact they replicated that old Health book to a T really makes it stand out. Its far better than anything the band has done especially the No Code polaroids w/lyrics.

Vitalogy is the best package. No Code is a close runner-up.

I think some of the artwork from album singles, fan club singles, and other items in the discography are cooler than most of the studio album artwork.....

I agree. But if I had to choose a best Pearl Jam album cover, then hands down Avocado I kid, I kid. Really, here it is:

1. Vs
2. Yield
3. Vitalogy
4. No Code
5. Binaural
6. Backspacer
7. Lost Dogs
8. Riot Act
9. Avocado
10. Ten

I think this has inspired me to bust out my photoshop and make a Backspacer cover that I would like. I'll post it when I'm done tonight.

Best Album Cover: Vs. b/c it sums up a feeling and an era.

Best Artwork throughout: Vitalogy, then No Code, then Yield.

I actually really like the Riot Act album cover. I think that might be why I don't like Riot Act so much though.... I judged the book by its cover. The songs didn't hold up as well as I thought by my first impression of the cover.

No Code is my favorite by leaps and bounds. Amazing concept, great execution.

Binaural has a fantastic feel to it too. The album cover being a metaphor for the entire binaural recording process. I also think the space idea was a great choice to reflect the music and the themes of some of the songs. Sleight of Hand, Of The Girl, and NAIS in particular.

The only Pearl Jam album covers I would consider uninspired or poor are Ten, Binaural, and s/t. Vs is probably a step below the rest, but even it has an element to it that fits the music well and helps represent the record's unifying themes.

I like all the space images in the Binaural booklet, awe inspiring some of them especially after I found them on the NASA site. Avocado has to be hands down the worst artwork the band has ever done.

Yield has the best artwork. The black and white images and all the hidden signs in the liner notes make it really cool to flip through. And then the cover is a simple picture in color of open road.

Vs. also has an interesting cover when you consider it came after that maroon cover on Ten. And the liner notes in Vs. perfectly encapsulate what it must feel like to spend a cold winter living in the northwest.

I like the minimalism of Binaural and Avocado. They're stark and succinct. But Binaural at least has artwork inside that builds off of the cover. There's no connection between the cover of Avocado and the mess inside. Vitalogy seems like they didn't try very hard. No Code has lots of cool images and color that build into something more. And Riot Act isn't that great.

I agree with the sentiment that some of the single artwork looks better. The I Am Mine single in particular looks much cooler than the actual Riot Act image.

Riot Act is my favorite cover. I don't see how vitalogy as best album art is even up for debate.

Why not?

1. No Code
2. Vitalogy
3. Live on Two Legs
4. Lost Dogs
5. Avocado
6. Binaural
7. Yield
8, Riot Act
9. Rearviewmirror
10 Vs.
11. Ten

Ten really didn't improve much on the redux, at least with respect to the vinyl only release. Of course, I'd like to see an open package: http://www.pjcollectors.com/detail.asp?id=1579

Backspacer sounds like it'll make the top five, but who knows, who knows.

This would make a good poll.

No Code is probably my fav.

1. No Code
2. Backspacer
3. Vitalogy
4. Vs.
5. Ten
6. Riot Act
7. Yield
8. Binaural
9. Lost Dogs
10. Rearviewmirror
11. S/T

Not going by overall artwork, only front cover - hence the inclusion of Backspacer. Yeah, I think it's that good.

bc it's a direct copy of a book cover.

i still think it's cool for an album cover, but is by no means an original piece.

Are you calling backspacer's art original?

no?

i was just talking about the Vitalogy cover. i think the whole package is f'in sweet.

To me this is really just a two horse race...Vitalogy vs. No Code. I probably prefer the No Code cover, but as far as overall packaging goes gotta go with Vitalogy.

I wish Ten and Vs. weren't Jewel cases.