Seemed like for awhile every indie band would use a seemingly low fi cover made from a Polaroid or retro-looking candid photograph as their album cover art. Pitchfork even looked at this trend not too long ago.
Now, I’m starting to see a new trend develop. Photos of beds, sheets, pillows and people ON said beds.
Here are three recent ones I’ve found, but I’m sure there are way more if I dug a little deeper.
Houses, All Night
Washed Out, Within And Without
Holy Other, With U
So what other albums are employing this? I’m told that according to the New York Times, three makes a trend. So what is the origin? Excluding general laziness or lack of creativity when it comes to album art, because that would be too easy to blame, why is this now a “thing?” Is it group think? Copy cats? Coincidence? YOU DECIDE!
UPDATE 6/18/2012: Recently I found yet another album cover that can be added to this trend of album art to employ bed sheets and pillows and scantily clad bodies. Here’s Violens’ True.
UPDATE 8/30/2012: Holy Other has another bed sheets-inspired cover for their album Held.
UPDATE 4/29/2014: Found yet another bedsheets album cover, this time for the new EP from Tourist, Patterns. Behold:
UPDATE 8/1/2014: The upcoming album from shoegaze metal band Whirr, Sway, has sheets too.
Commentary on the sedentary lifestyle trend?
I think Sam Beam started it: http://myfolkingheart.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/sam-beam1.jpg?w=225&h=169
Humans spend almost 1/3 of their time on the planet sleeping, and even more time doing other things in bed. A lot of relationships and conversations take place in the bedroom. Songs are about life, relationships, and often what takes place in the bedroom. It’s hardly a trend, or even much of a statement. It’s simply reflective of life. Much like music itself.
Granted, these covers are not that creative, but I’ve found that some of the best songs take the mundane and make it interesting.