DigiPack Analysis and Research

Due to problems regarding the cast being unavailable to film and certain props and locations also being unavailable, I have decided to look ahead and start researching into what is included in an album package or digipack.


Here are three examples of digipacks/albums presented by artists within the music industry, which I will look into (ahead of putting together our own digipack):

• Linkin Park  (Alternative Rock/Nu-Metal) - Meteora - Enhanced CD for the same reason as Oasis
• You Me At Six (Alternative Rock) - Hold Me Down
• Oasis (Brit Pop) - Time Flies 1994-2009 - Special Digipack, made for those fans want something extra other than the conventional CD of the 16 or so hits

Linkin Park - Meteora

Front Cover: This album cover shows a young man (subtle hint about target audience) with a graffiti can, which has connotations of layering paint. This is just like the heavy levels of sampling and production that were involved in the sound of this album. The scaffolding in the album art may represent the ‘music in the making’ similar to buildings, as they also have to be constructed.

Middle Cover (within CD case): This image shows a close up of several spray can tops, continuing the theme of this image (prop) being shown throughout the digipack. Exactly like the front cover, this image helps to portray the large amount of sampling involved in the sound of the album because of the purpose of this item.




Back Cover: Tracklist on the left hand side. It also shows that this particular CD is ‘enhanced’, equipped with bonus features that were not present on the original version of the album. This allows the audience to get ‘closer’ to the band as they are allowed to see how the album was constructed, it also gives them the feeling of exclusivity i.e. not everyone will hold this album with these particular features. By the artist releasing this CD and allowing the audience to get ‘closer’ to them, it strengthens the relationship between them. This relationship would be proven as audiences will feel more obliged to go to their concert or purchase merchandise or further CDs, improving sales numbers for the artist.

Inlay:

Picture of Band Members: The picture is divided into six: one space/image for each band member. This allows them to showcase their different personalities but also showcases the band’s solidarity as the six images are still only shown as one whole one.

Lyrics and Comments: This shows the lyrics to the song, something which is repeated for all others on the album. It also writes about the constructing of the song in one paragraph, so the audience feel more attached to the work of the artist as they now have a deeper insight into the lengthy processes of making it.

Middle Page: Montage shot showing ‘snippets’ of what it is like being in a band, making the artist have power and become the envy of the audience. This helps to show the band’s position, illustrating their success. It can also personalise the band so that they are more accessible to the audience.

You Me At Six - Hold Me Down

Front Cover: This image on the front cover includes an explosion of colour coming from the centre (of looks to be a person) possibly signifying pouring their heart and soul into both the record and the
relationship (on which the album’s music is based). It shows a man posed in the crucifix position with arms out wide, showing he may be giving up, however this could also depict an angel (as his saviour). It looks as though a female is placed by his left shoulder indicating she was his inspiration for this album. The artist and album name look as if they have been written on a piece of scrap paper and held up by some tape. This may illustrate the state of mind of the lead singer about this relationship,  that the bare minimum has been done to hold the paper up i.e. he is just about surviving (linking back to him in the crucifix position). It is interesting to note that the front does not show an image of the band, but this band are not from the indie genre so different conventions may apply.

Back Cover: The track names have been written on scrap paper and held up by tape once again, showing a thread of consistency and theme throughout the album (from front to back)


CD: It continues with the main colour theme of green from the album as well as the image of roses. A hatching effect has been added to this image in order to please the audience as it is now more aesthetically pleasing but also to show that (the rose – signifying that love is blossoming) his love has been tainted and is no longer pure.

Inlay:

First Page: The first page continues theme of love/loss with images of red roses placed on the end of the pages, possibly signifying the start and end of a relationship which is further eluded to by the music on the album

Second Page: The second page shows a picture of the band in the centre of the page (on the centre page of the inlay). It gives the audience to visualise the band and start to build a personal relationship with them. All the band members are looking straight forward to (you), the lead singer is shown slightly off-centre possibly conforming to a music stereotype.

Oasis - Time Flies 1994-2009


This album is different from the usual presentation of an album or digipack as it is a greatest hits collection; it comemerates the existence of this band for the duration of the 15 years they made music. 

Front Cover: This digipack is presented as a special digipack for those who paid extra for additional on the album like: the music videos of all 27 singles on the album, the band's last ever live gig recorded as well as the 2-Disc album of songs itself. Therefore the digipack is presented as a box and not as a conventional CD (to differentiate between the two editions but to also give those fans who bought this edition something extra) however the front cover design does not differ from the original edition to the extended edition.
It illustrates the band's iconic iconography in the top left hand corner, which has appeared on the majority of their previous studio albums. This helps to identify with and please their (built up) fanbase as this has almost become an expectation of this particular artist. It shows the crowds at a packed out Oasis gig eagerly awaiting their arrival (similar to the person who bought this record eagerly awaiting to hear the music). It helps to convey the size of the band within the industry, it is a bold statement playing on the reputation of the band and does not even require any images of the band members on the front cover.

Back Cover: The back cover's image is the reverse of the front cover - where audiences were waiting to hear the music, now the gig (and album) has finished, it demonstrates the clear up at the end of the concert. This may also indicate to audiences that the album is supposed to be presented as a live performance (in as much as the presentation and track listing, not the sound). So the theme of a concert has been started and ended as we 'journey' through the album. This is something I would want to consider when creating our digipack.

CD: The CDs are contained in pockets. On these, there are audience members shown at an Oasis live concert, maintaining the strong theme of celebrating this band's work and it being illustrated as another gig.

Inlay: The digipack is also sold with a booket, inside it shows quotes from fans of the band which again enhances the status of the band. On the first page (important as as introduction) there is a picture of a fan holding a Union Jack flag indicating this global band's origins, something which they are proud of and (obviously) want to illustrate.

All of this may have been done to 'preserve' the band's legacy in years to come.