Indie
24 cover stories
Independent labels gave designers freedom that major labels rarely allowed. The result: some of the most distinctive and personal album art ever created, from 4AD's ethereal designs to Merge Records' handcrafted sleeves.
Fetch the Bolt Cutters
Fiona Apple · 2020
Lonerism
Tame Impala · 2012
Vampire Weekend
Vampire Weekend · 2008
The Reminder
Feist · 2007
Neon Bible
Arcade Fire · 2007
Person Pitch
Panda Bear · 2007
Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not
Arctic Monkeys · 2006
Fox Confessor Brings the Flood
Neko Case · 2006
Silent Alarm
Bloc Party · 2005
Illinois
Sufjan Stevens · 2005
Hot Fuss
The Killers · 2004
Funeral
Arcade Fire · 2004
Transatlanticism
Death Cab for Cutie · 2003
Turn on the Bright Lights
Interpol · 2002
Lifted or The Story Is in the Soil, Keep Your Ear to the Ground
Bright Eyes · 2002
Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots
The Flaming Lips · 2002
Is This It
The Strokes · 2001
The Moon & Antarctica
Modest Mouse · 2000
In the Aeroplane Over the Sea
Neutral Milk Hotel · 1998
Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain
Pavement · 1994
Spiderland
Slint · 1991
Louder Than Bombs
The Smiths · 1987
The Queen Is Dead
The Smiths · 1986
Hatful of Hollow
The Smiths · 1984