Judged by the Cover

In this episode of Judged by the Cover, Josh and Phil explore the iconic album artwork for Ghost in the Machine by The Police.Released in 1981, this record marked a turning point for the band as they began incorporating synthesizers and new sounds into their music. But just as interesting as the music is the album cover design created by Mick Haggerty, which uses a digital 7-segment display style to represent the band members in a futuristic and abstract way.Josh and Phil dig into the story behind the album, the inspiration for its title, and how the design perfectly reflects the theme of humans interacting with technology.Along the way they discuss:The evolution of The Police’s sound in the early 80sThe concept behind the Ghost in the Machine titleHow the iconic digital album cover was designedWhy simple concepts often create the most memorable album artworkLessons modern artists can learn when designing their own cover artIf you love album cover art, music history, vinyl records, and graphic design, this episode is for you.🎧 Listen and discover why this classic album cover still stands out more than 40 years later.

For the first time ever, the Grammy Awards introduced a Best Album Cover category — and we had to break it down. In this episode of Judged by the Cover, Josh and Phil react to the 2025 Grammy Best Album Cover nominees and talk about what they reveal about modern album cover design in the streaming era. We dive into the winning artwork for Chromakopia by Tyler, the Creator, the cinematic chaos of The Crux by Djo, the minimalism of Debí Tirar Más Fotos by Bad Bunny, and more. What makes great album artwork in 2025? Does minimalism still work? Is shock value enough? And what does the Grammy Best Album Cover category mean for independent artists? If you care about album cover design, music branding, and the visual side of streaming culture — this one’s for you. Because the square matters.

Kick off 2026 with Josh and Phil as they recap the standout album art, physical packaging, and music moments from 2025. They debate if the song of the summer is officially dead, spotlight their favorite album covers (including Buddy Guy, Mammoth, and Andy Mineo), and highlight unique vinyl releases like Fine Young Cannibals' 40th anniversary edition and the rise of tiny vinyls. Plus, they share the best new artists and live music experiences that shaped their year.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year on Judged by the Cover! In this special Christmas episode, Josh and Phil deck the halls with stories behind the most iconic Christmas movie soundtracks and their own favorite holiday albums. Whether you’re team White Christmas or Home Alone, a Peanuts purist, or an NSYNC 90s kid, there’s something in this episode for everyone.Whether you’re trimming the tree or just need a festive soundtrack for your day, press play and share a laugh—and some music history—with your favorite podcast duo. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from Josh, Phil, and Judged by the Cover!

In this episode of Judged by the Cover, Phil Hyland takes us on a nostalgic journey through his musical past. He shares the story behind "Reel to Real," a collection of 90s demo recordings recently brought back to life. Josh from JW Creates details the creative process behind the album artwork, incorporating weathered textures and Phil's handwriting to capture the essence of the era.The duo discusses the importance of physical formats in music, from cassettes to CDs, and how they shaped the industry. Phil reminisces about recording techniques, the New York music scene, and the thrill of getting an indie deal.As a surprising twist, Phil reveals a heartwarming tale of fan mail received 30 years after the release of his band's debut album. This story highlights the enduring connection between artists and fans, and the unexpected ways music can bridge generations.Tune in to hear more about the resurrection of these classic demos, the art of album design, and a touching reminder of music's lasting impact.***Link for voting for Gracie in the Shoals City Showdown***

In this episode of Judged by the Cover, Josh and Phil dive into a new round of musical discovery—choosing albums based purely on their cover art. This time, they stumble upon the Outlaws, a band that blends southern rock with a country flair, and share how striking visuals led them to this unexpected find.The hosts unpack the Outlaws' sound, drawing comparisons to Lynyrd Skynyrd and spotlighting standout tracks like “There Goes Another Love Song” and " Green Grass and High Tides." They also dig into the band’s backstory, from their Tampa roots to signing with Arista Records under the legendary Clive Davis.Listeners can expect a fun, thoughtful breakdown of the album cover and album. Josh and Phil reflect on how these visuals shape their musical journey—making this episode a must-listen for vinyl lovers and cover art enthusiasts alike.

Get ready for an electrifying episode of "Judged by the Cover" as we explore the legendary comebacks of two iconic bands—AC/DC and Linkin Park. Josh and Phil dive into the history and evolution of these musical giants, comparing AC/DC's "Back in Black" with Linkin Park's latest release, "From Zero."Join us as we unravel Linkin Park's journey from their early days to their recent resurgence. Discover how the band navigated the challenges following Chester Bennington's passing and embraced a new era with Emily Armstrong. Josh shares insights into their innovative album promotion, highlighting their unique fan engagement strategies.We also explore the creative process behind "From Zero's" artwork, offering a glimpse into the band's artistic vision. Finally, we draw parallels between Linkin Park's and AC/DC's comebacks, celebrating their resilience and continued impact on the music world.Tune in for a captivating discussion filled with personal anecdotes, industry insights, and a celebration of musical evolution. Don't miss out—press play and join the conversation!

Get ready to rock! In this episode of "Judged by the Cover," we explore the legendary album "Back in Black" by AC/DC. From the band's history and transition after Bon Scott's tragic death to the creation of this iconic record, we cover it all. Discover how Brian Johnson stepped in, and the band recorded this masterpiece in just two months.We dive into the album's striking cover art—a tribute to Bon Scott—and its lasting impact on music lovers and collectors alike. Even in the digital age, strong visual branding remains crucial. Stay tuned for Part 2, where we discuss similarities to the new album by Linking Park - From Zero!!!!

On this episode of Judged by the Cover, Josh and Phil take a deep dive into the standout album covers, physical packaging, and unforgettable music of 2024. From the bold and cinematic artwork of Linkin Park’s From Zero to the nostalgic aesthetic of Logan Crosby’s 2019, they break down what made these covers visually striking and how they complement the music within. Along the way, they share their personal favorites, unexpected discoveries, and the biggest design trends shaping the industry this year. Whether you’re a die-hard collector or just love great album art, this episode is packed with insights, banter, and a whole lot of music talk. Tune in and join the conversation!

Christmas music holds a special place in the hearts of so many. For an artist, releasing a Christmas album comes with its own unique pressures—but it can also become a defining moment, etching their music into the memories of the holiday season.In this festive episode of Judged by the Cover, we’re diving into a few unexpected Christmas albums—the ones you didn’t see coming! Some are from artists you might not know ventured into holiday tunes, while others represent genres not typically associated with Christmas cheer.Get ready for a fun and surprising discussion as we unwrap these musical gems. So grab your hot cocoa, pull up your favorite Santa blanket, and cozy up by the fire—it’s time to enjoy the holiday spirit with us.

The guys are back! After a few months away, Judged by the Cover returns with more deep dives into the fascinating world of album art and music discovery. In this episode, we explore Crashing Dream by Rain Parade, a lesser-known band that holds a special place in Phil's heart. While the music hits all the right notes for Phil, the cover art falls a lil flat. Join us as Josh critiques the artwork and shares his vision for elevating it to better match the album’s voice. Don’t miss out—stay tuned until the end to see the reimagined cover art!

In this special episode of the Judged by the Cover podcast, we invite five music/entertainment industry professionals to put their expertise to the test. Join us as our guests blind judge a selection of album covers, rating each one out of 10 purely on visual appeal. But that's not all—they also take a shot at guessing the music genre behind each cover! The panel includes music producer Brent, local podcaster Iggy, artist Finding Zero, and band members Sydney and Brayden from In the Company of Wolves. Tune in for insightful critiques, surprising genre guesses, and a whole lot of fun as we explore the fascinating world of album art from a fresh perspective.

In this episode of the Judged by the Cover podcast, hosts Josh and Phil dive into the world of Pink Floyd's legendary Dark Side of the Moon. With an iconic album cover like this, there is a lot to talk about. Josh also drops a hot take about Wolfgang Van Halen, and asks the question - Is he (Wolfgang) more talented than his father Eddie...? Check it out to hear our thoughts!!!

To celebrate Record Store Day 2024 the guys stop in at Retro Vinyl Records, in Chattanooga, to hang out with Scott and talk all things music, vinyl records and album covers. We got a bonus interview with Scotts daughter Dala who is a huge Red Hot Chili Peppers fan, and her love of all things music.

Unfortunately this is not an episode on your favorite Nickelback album, but we are looking at photographs on album covers. Join Josh & Phil as we talk about some of the best practices, and things to think about when using a photo on your album cover. In this episode we also revive our Near Miss segment where we discuss a genre that is a repeat offender in their use of photos that look like bad high school senior portraits. Grab your popcorn and settle in, we have a fun one for you today!!!Video Episode

On todays episode of the Judged by the Cover podcast, we are doing a little music discovery. I (Josh) spent some time digging through crates of vinyl at my 3 favorite record stores in town, and picked up some albums based solely on the cover art. We are focusing on one of those albums today by the band The Dangerous Summer, and it's their album from 2022 called Coming Home. This was easily one of the most fun experiences I have had in discovering new music, and can’t wait for y’all to check it out!Youtube VideoDigital Content

Welcome to the first Judged by the Cover of 2024!! With a new year come big changes, so everyone give a warm welcome to our new co-host Phil Hyland! Phil has been on the show before as a guest, and he brings a totally different music perspective and energy to the show that I'm really excited about. Join us in this episode as we discuss some of our favorites of 2023 in album cover design, physical packaging, music and so much more!! Make sure to also check out the liner notes page using the link below to view all the digital content for this episode.Digital Content

There is no shortage of interesting Christmas album covers, and in this episode of the Judged by the Cover podcast we take a look at 3 of the most unusual ones! Get ready to learn about some great Christmas albums with questionable album covers, and hopefully learn something about them you didn't know before. A link to the digital content will down below as usual. Have a merry Christmas and thanks for listening!!Digital Content

We have finally reached our 10th episode!!! Today is another special interview episode of the Judged by the Cover podcast, and this time it is with a great friend of mine Brent Crowe! Brent is an amazing song writer, musician, producer and owner of the studio Backbeat Sound Design here in Chattanooga TN. The conversation ranges from song writing, to production and recording knowledge, and as always we discuss the importance of branding, album covers, and some of Brent's favorite album covers. We discuss one of my favorite cover art project I Never Knew, which is a song Brent wrote, and give you some behind the scene info in how that cover came to be. Brent has been a super supporter of me and what I'm doing with JW Creates and Judged by the Cover from the beginning, so it is really awesome to spotlight who Brent is.Digital Content

Do you enjoy stories that have a little controversy to them...? Well then you are in for a treat, todays episode dives into the influential album and cover design of The Clash's album London Calling. We dive into some of the interesting facts behind the album covers inspiration, and learn why the bass player decided to smash his treasured Fender P-bass. We also have a fun cover to discuss in the Near Miss segment of the show, and there is new segment music!!! Grab your snack of choice, and lets learn about some great cover art design, and how these covers can inspire your next album/single cover.Digital Content