Digipaks - Arctic Monkeys

Although I did not study any of Arctic Monkeys music videos I am looking at their Digipaks and they use them a lot, for to of their albums, singles and an EP. 


I have decided to analyse the 2006 single 'Leave Before The Lights Come On' and the 2009 album 'Humbug'.


'Leave Before The Lights Come On' is a very basic cover (almost as basic as Suck It and See). It looks as though it is made out of recycled card and has a roughness to it, all that is on the front is their then logo, and on the back is a barcode, tracklist and Publishers. When it is opened up is another tracklist and a more detailed account of the songs, produced by, published by, record company on the left hand side, on the right is the slot where the CD is and also a quote 'And they were left with their good friend Speculation. It was felt to be the best way. It was hard to be sure but was certainly suspected there were many unanswered questions, perhaps more amongst some than others. "We'll meet again, on a more weathered landscape" was thought never really said. 
With cries of "the boy's none soft!" they will part, not a moment too soon.' 


The CD itself is also blank, apart from a few words saying 'With cries of "the boy's none soft!" they will part, not a moment too soon.'  (The same that were in the quote.)

The Digipak could be left so plain so people will only care about the music on it and not the materialistic packaging. 

'Humbug' has a totally different approach, it was made 3 years later and is a full album, the front cover features a picture of the band but the same image layered over and moved around, slightly mirrored. Alex Turner the lead man is sitting at the front of the picture. They have donned a new logo for their name on this album. The back is quite plain with another logo - a different one again, and the track list with some Domino Records writing on it and their logo. The colouring of it continues the theme from the front. 


When you open it up there is a full spread of a picture of two people (perhaps band members, though it is hard to tell) climbing up golden sand dune against a blue sky, the image has been edited a lot and the contrast has been changed to a very high level. There a a lot of shadows which adds mystery. The left has side has a booklet inside of it with pictures of the bands and lyrics, where the right hand side has the CD itself in it in another sleeve covered in the logo of Domino records.
The CD itself has an image printed onto it with the initials AM. To me, the image looks like a pie with pastry letters on top of it which are a little bit burnt, but interpretation is open.