My husband has a theory about that you can tell if an album is any good just by looking at the cover. If the "artist" is shown on the cover, then you can be pretty sure the music is crap.

For example:


If the cover is more art, the music is not crap.

For example:


Of course, there are always exceptions.

For example:


I think, however, this is just a case of not classifying deeply enough. I think if the "artist" is looking down, not looking directly at the buyer, and is not provocatively dressed, the album is more likely not to be crap.

We haven't developed the theory that deeply, but the next time you are browsing CDs, take a look. You'll see what I mean.

Paul Collins, in his book Sixpence House, has a similar take on books. His Theory on Dust Jackets:



"There is an implicit code that customers rely on. If a book cover has raised lettering, metallic lettering, or raised metallic lettering, then it is telling the reader: 'Hello. I am an easy-to-read work on espionage, romance, a celebrity, and/or murder.' To readers who do not care for such things, this lettering tells them: 'Hello. I am crap.' Such books can use only glossy paper for the jacket; Serious Books can use glossy finish as well, but it is only Serious Books that are allowed to use matte finish.



Any book with a color photo of the author taking up the entire front cover is, um, "crap".