CD Covers

C.D Cover Analysis
Joe Stark
Hail to The Thief By Radiohead


The cover has no title or artist name on its front. This is used I think to focus on the artwork, and because the artist is so popular fans will notice as by the artist.


The way the black drips into the blue or the sea, to me could resemble pollution moving into the sea from the city. It could also represent how American society bleeds its way into the world and infects other countries society.


Artwork as with all Radiohead albums since The Bends (1995) is by artist Stanley Donwood. Abstract artist who is close friends with the band and has also produced collabatory work with singer Thom Yorke.


Cover features very bright and strong colours. Lots of variation of colour helps to attract attention.


Artwork is like a grid map of a city close to water, each block with a word in is like a shop etc in an American city i.e. New York. The album could be seen as an attack on America and all the words seem to link to either a fault or a section of American society. The title ‘Hail to the Thief’ could be seen to visualize a country run by a thief i.e. George Bush and how America and probably the rest of the world has it metaphorically bow to him.