Jamie xx — In Waves Jamie xx. For Jamie xx’s 2015 debut, In Colour, the album cover lived up to its name.A rainbow pinwheel, adorned with a stray white block, dominates the field of vision. So ...

The album is the best invention of the past century, hands down — but the music isn’t the whole story. The album cover has been a cultural obsession as long as albums have. Ever since 12-inch ...

Out of all the album covers from the 1990s on our list, the cover of the 1995 album Washing Machine by Sonic Youth is the simplest. But sometimes, simplicity is just so cool.

These album covers capture the essence of the artist’s music and its spirit. Some express a moment or an intimate self-portrait of them, while others present daring designs.

Teresa Clarke, 76, makes for a moody Adele on a rethink of the “21” album cover, while Maureen Capper, 80, is wholly in vogue as Madonna in her “True Blue” era.