Linkin Park - Minutes to Midnight (Analysis)

Maturity and masculinity is connoted within this album cover .The background colour is white with elements of grey at the bottom and black used for the band name and its member, the usage of black with the two makes a link in identifying who ‘Linkin Park’ are and then the positions in which the six figures are placed with dark clothing makings it more masculine rather than a range of colours which would make it more feminine. Having black silhouettes with a white background is a big contrast to the generic themes associated with rock music. By doing this they are stepping away from what is expected of them by creating something new from people to explore whilst still keeping the darkness of their rock culture giving a maturity and mystery feel to the cover.

 A constant usage of the same colour scheme for the front cover is used in the digipak also. The CD has the Linkin Park symbol embedded on it and with the song list within the symbol; it’s a creating and interesting effect. The album target audience doesn't seem to be explicit but due to how the digipak has been constructed it would seem to have a more mature feel, with greater meaning to the lyrics rather than it just being a song. The songs should be the focus not the member as it shows them as silhouettes ‘let their music speak for them’ scenario.  The obvious parent advisory logo backs this up.    

     

The back cover uses a darker colour scheme from the front. As if the from is it was the sun being up for the front cover and the back is the sun setting. All the members are looking out to the sea as if they are all looking to the future it’s a step forward connoting that there music is a step further, its grown matured, seen things it hasn't before. The song list is positioned right in the middle of the back at the top within the clouds above the silhouettes heads. The thin line of blackness still represents there heritage of rock music so darkness is in this new beginning for them. At the bottom is the logos for Warner brother the record label the band is signed to and the usual elements on a back cover e.g. bar code. 

  

  

Linkin Park - Minutes to Midnight Poster:

Linkin Park's Minutes to Midnight Poster, is also very similar to their digipak album. The strong contrast between the black and white can be argued to be just as eye catching as bright colours.  The poster differs from the album as instead of seeing just the outlined silhouettes of the band, there is a medium close up of the members taking up the bottom half of the poster.

The band members are all wearing black which connotes a rock genre.  The poses of the band are fairly solemn and serious possibly reflecting their music.Yet they are still able to keep the elements of casual and cool as many of them have their hands in their pockets. This poster again has the band name in the bold font that has been constant within many of their other albums as well as this one and so the poster is most likely to attract existing fans who recognize the faces of the band members. 

The constant recurrence of 'black' and and the album being called minutes to MIDNIGHT suggest a dark feeling which can be relate-able to their target audience of the rock genre.