This document analyzes magazine advertisements for albums by three bands: the Kaiser Chiefs, the Kooks, and Arctic Monkeys. It discusses key elements of each advertisement like font styles, colors, and poses that were intended to attract buyers and sell more albums. Specific techniques included using bold black text to convey authority, isolating the lead singer to identify their role, and implying rebellious or risky behaviors to appeal to younger audiences.
2. KEY ELEMENTS TO SELLING
MAGAZINES
• BLACK, BOLD TITLES
• ITALIC SUBTITLES
• RED FONTS TO INDICATE THAT IT IS THE
BAND’S FIRST ALBUM
• BLACK AND WHITE BACKGROUND
• LEAD SINGER IN A POSITION OF DOMINANCE
3. The Kaiser Chiefs- Yours, Truly Angry
Mob
‘Yours Truly, Angry Mob’ is the second album by English rock
band Kaiser Chiefs. It was released on 26 February 2007. Yours
Truly, Angry Mob is lyrically darker and more socially aware
than its predecessor ‘Employment’, with tracks dealing with
street crime, violence, fame, and also the inaccuracy of
tabloid stories. The album was preceded by the band’s leading
single “Ruby” on 19 February 2007. It became the band’s first
(and to date, only) number one album in the British album
charts. The album also reached #1 in the United Kingdom.
4. THE KAISER CHIEFSThe title is highlighted in black, bold
fonts which is usually a negative
connotation. Black denotes strength
and authority, and this perhaps
suggests the mood the group was
currently experiencing, as their
single “Ruby” which is also included
in the album, peaked at number 1 in
the UK charts- it was the band’s first
ever no.1 single
For their CD cover, the band decided to
go for ‘mopped’ up haircut, with all,
apart from one group member, with
serious faces. This possibly suggests a
macho approach , especially as they
are heavily featured with black clothes.
This is in particularly true of the lead
singer. Another reason why they may
come across as serious-mined people is
because the album covers topical
issues such as street crime, violence
and the inaccuracy of tabloid stories,
and the lyrics are much darker
compared to their previous album,
‘Employment’.
The lighter background
which contrasts to the black
bold title as well as the
group members who are
presented in black suggest
the band also have purity.
This is the name
of the of the
Kaiser Chief’s
album. It is
written in italic
to separate the
album name
from the name
of the actual
band
5. The Kooks- Inside In Inside Out
Inside In/Inside Out is the debut album by English indie rock
band the Kooks. It was released on 23 January 2006 on Virgin
Records. It contain their most noted song to date, “Naïve”,
which is the best-selling single of their careers, and also the
UK’s nineteenth best-selling single of 2006. The album
reached number two in the British Album Charts and has sold
over 2,000,000 copies worldwide since its release.
6. THE KOOKS
In relation to the title of the album,
the band elected to highlight the key
words in a red colour. As we already
know, red is a colour that signals
danger and attention. Therefore, as
this was the band’s debut album,
they may have wanted to include the
title of their album in red to alert
people who are unaware of the
Kooks, to buy their product. Their hit
single “Naïve”, only further
illustrated their cause for the public
to purchase their album.
Judging by the still image of the
band members, the Kooks come
across as band who take
pleasure in playing music in their
spare time, particular with
guitars. All their heads are down
whilst they are playing, which
adds to the thought that they are
full focused, unworried by the
events of the outer surroundings
The white colour in the
background adds simplicity to the
album cover
The character occupying the mirror, is
the lead singer. He is isolated from the
rest of the group meaning it is easier
to identify his role in the band. His
black attire implies power, authority
and elegance, three key attributes of a
lead singer, when posing for a
magazine, album cover etc. It also
suggests anonymity, and certainly in
this album cover, he has no identity.
7. Arctic Monkeys- Whatever people say I am,
That’s what I’m not
‘Whatever People Say I Am, That’s what I’m not’ is the debut
album by English band Arctic Monkeys. Coincidentally, it was
released on 23 January 2006- the same date as the Kooks. The
album became the UK’s fastest selling debut album, shifting
over 360,000 copies in its first week.
8. ARCTIC MONKEYS
The cigarette that occupies the grasp of
the lead singers two fingers on his left
hand acts as a symbol to all young people
in the UK. The album was considered by
some to be a concept music album
concerning the lives of young North
England clubbers, and so the cigarette
suggests a ‘cool’ side to the band’s nature.
The ‘fag’ may also warn their fans (who
are young), that their album also heavily
features lyrics that is associated to the
human behaviour is nightclubs.
Alex Turner’s (the lead singer) eyes
denotes someone who is ‘drowsy’,
‘on-the-edge’, but a term most
commonly used to describe his eye
motions, is ‘high’. This obviously
implies that is under the influence of
illegal drugs (Class A and B), such as
heroin, marijuana, and cocaine. This
may even prompt more sales to their
target audience, because their fans
believe this is something they can
relate to, as they have, in numerous
times, found themselves in a similar
predicament as Turner. This is one
method in which they have sold their
product.
It is unique that the name
of the band is not
positioned in the middle of
the album cover, especially
it being their debut album.
This is because the Arctic
Monkeys have deliberately
made their lead singer
their most primary interest.
It could be said that another
method used to sell their album is
the fact that Turner’s hair is quite
short which could imply teenage
rebelliousness- something similar to
that of the ‘Teddy boys’