Turned Table Record Shop
Turned Table Record Shop displays ten well-known album covers that are visually re-interpreted by employing a series of design rules dictated by the characteristics of each musician's unique sound. After listening to all ten albums, I graphed out where the albums would fall according to my rules and designed them accordingly. Using the rules I set out for myself resulted in ten highly graphic album designs that are driven by their sound and lyrical cues.
Design Rules: Click through the slideshow to read the design rules I set for myself to follow.
Designed Albums
Page through the albums to see their designs and the rules used to designed them. Click on the image to make it larger.
Abbey Road is a pop album recorded by The Beatles in 1969. The album has a happy and playful mood, and is in a major key. Abbey Road has an average tempo of 100bpm with a smooth and flowy sound. The lyrics of the album are passionate and expressive, and have a theme of love.
Enema of the State is a punk album recorded by Blink-182 in 1999. The album has an angry and frustrated mood, and is in a major key. Enema of the State has an average tempo of 120bpm with a rough and choppy sound. The lyrics of the album are interesting and strange, and have a theme of hate.
The Dark Side of the Moon is a rock album recorded by Pink Floyd in 1973. The album has a dark and sad mood, and is in a minor key. Dark Side of the Moon has an average tempo of 113bpm with a mix of a rough and choppy and smooth and flowy sounds. The minimal lyrics of the album are bland and neutral with no constant theme.
Nevermind is an alternative rock album recorded by Nirvana in 1991. The album has a sad and depressed mood with some angry moments, and is in a minor key. Nevermind has an average tempo of 134bpm with a very heavy and rough sound. The lyrics of the album are interesting and strange, and have an overall theme theme of hate and fear.
True Blue is a pop album recorded by Madonna in 1986. The album has a happy mood with some angry undertones, and is in a major key. True Blue has an average tempo of 116bpm with an electric-based and choppy sound. The lyrics of the album are reassuring and pleasing, and have a theme of love and desire.
1989 is a pop album recorded by Taylor Swift in 2014. Being an album centered around breakups, the album has a sad mood with some happy moments and is in a major key. 1989 has an average tempo of 117bpm with a smooth and flowy sound. The lyrics of the album are emotional and have a theme of love.
21 is a soulful pop album recorded by Adele in 2011. The album has a sad mood and is in a major key. 21 has an average tempo of 120bpm and has a smooth and flowy sound. The lyrics of the album are emotional and delicate and have an overall theme of love.
American Idiot is a punk album recorded by Green Day in 2004. The album has an angry mood with some depressed moments, and is in a major key. American Idiot has an average tempo of 128bpm with a heavy and rough sound. The lyrics of the album are passionate and expressive and have a theme of hate and fear.
Graduation is a rap album recorded by Kanye West in 2007. The album has an angry and happy mood, and is in a major key. Graduation has an average tempo of 106bpm with heavy and electric-based sounds. The lyrics of the album are passionate and expressive, and have a theme of hate.
Master of Puppets is a metal album recorded by Metallica in 1986. The album has a mood of powerlessness (sadness) mixed with some anger and is in a minor key. Master of Puppets has an average tempo of 144bpm with a heavy and rough sound. The lyrics of the album are interesting and strange, and have an overall theme of hate and fear.