Music has always been a form of expression between rhythms, lyrics, instruments, and so on. It doesn’t end there, though.

Album covers can add an entire extra layer to an album. Color schemes can trigger album covers in your mind, they can be random, they can add to the overall meaning of an album, and some of them become iconic over time.

Popularity helps push album covers into the public eye, but even some indie album covers have taken the internet by storm.

Let’s take a look at the top 10 album covers from 2017.

Album Covers will be listed in order of release date.

 

1. Migos – Culture

Released: January 27th

The three-piece group from Georgia released Culture, their second studio album. The album cover is a collage of traditional imagery such as flowers and architecture representing Atlanta, Georgia. It became a defining hip-hop visual of 2017. [oai_citation:0‡Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/album/4JTOxuvM2jcSqAvEZtZsOO?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

2. Thundercat – Drunk

Released: February 24th

Drunk is Thundercat’s third studio album. The cover has a definite ‘70s throwback quality that catches your eye — the image was photographed at Flying Lotus’s pool. [oai_citation:1‡Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/album/4JTOxuvM2jcSqAvEZtZsOO?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

3. Father John Misty – Pure Comedy

Released: April 7th

Father John Misty, also known as Josh Tillman, released this concept-rich album tackling fame, politics, aging, and social media. The intricate album cover art was created by Edward Steed. [oai_citation:2‡Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/album/4JTOxuvM2jcSqAvEZtZsOO?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

4. Kendrick Lamar – DAMN.

Released: April 14th

Kendrick Lamar’s critically acclaimed DAMN. has one of the most recognizable 2017 album covers — stark, bold, and meme-worthy thanks to its striking simplicity. [oai_citation:3‡Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/album/4JTOxuvM2jcSqAvEZtZsOO?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

5. Feist – Pleasure

Released: April 28th

Pleasure marked Feist’s return after several years. The contrast on the album cover between vibrant clothing and a somber sky mirrors the album’s emotional ebb and flow. [oai_citation:4‡Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/album/4JTOxuvM2jcSqAvEZtZsOO?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

6. Lil Yachty – Teenage Emotions

Released: May 26th

Teenage Emotions is Lil Yachty’s debut studio album, featuring a movie-theater themed cover that encapsulates youthful variety and self-expression. [oai_citation:5‡Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/album/1ux4dt8H4u5cgBRadz8jf5?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

7. SZA – CTRL

Released: June 9th

CTRL is SZA’s breakthrough debut studio album, with cover art showing her relaxed and reflective amidst a pile of old monitors — visually reinforcing the album’s introspective themes. [oai_citation:6‡Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/album/76290XdXVF9rPzGdNRWdCh?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

8. Lorde – Melodrama

Released: June 16th

Melodrama is Lorde’s second studio album, known for its expressive painting by Sam McKinniss that beautifully captures the album’s emotional scope. [oai_citation:7‡Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/album/2B87zXm9bOWvAJdkJBTpzF?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

9. Tyler, The Creator – Flower Boy

Released: July 21st

Flower Boy features surreal artwork of Tyler in a field of flowers with large bees — a visual metaphor for the vibrant and introspective album within. [oai_citation:8‡Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/album/4JTOxuvM2jcSqAvEZtZsOO?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

10. Vic Mensa – The Autobiography

Released: July 28th

The Autobiography is Vic Mensa’s debut album, and its cover invites deep visual exploration — from coded fridge imagery to personal symbolism. [oai_citation:9‡Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/album/4JTOxuvM2jcSqAvEZtZsOO?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

What album covers did we miss? Which covers would make your top 10?

Let us know below.

The creativity and opportunity to make an album cover is a fun part of the music process, but most important of all is to develop and grow your musical talent.

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