I love anything produced by Jim Foetus, his radicalisation of pop art (which I usually loathe) and work on fonts is admirable.
NSK's work is impressive as well. Strong iconic elements, with parts that looks as if they are actually coming out from the cover itself as the original paintings.
Personally I don't have standards and I think artwork is as important as sounds/lyrics and concept, but it must somehow depends on it. Which it doesn't mean that what's on a cover must necessarily illustrate the concept, but can suggest similar atmospheres.
Same goes with actual logos. A knife, a knuckleduster, a hammer, a skull may be obsolete and redundant since they have been over-used by everybody, but it can still work in a specific moment/reason.
Personally I am a sucker for digital editing, especially considering that I am completely unfit to work with my hands, but also because it enables extending the whole collage/cutup work at length, especially when you work with colours. But I am still turned on by anything done by hand.
If I think about the BU box, zyklon b, or the GO slave our slaves box I think about perfection, since there you can touch, feel, read, listen (and wear) all the stuff having a "total" experience.
But at the same time give me early whitehouse/ramleh minimal works and I still see perfection.
Yet,
