Indie
35 cover stories
Independent labels gave designers freedom that major labels rarely allowed. The result: some of the most distinctive and personal album art ever created, from 4AD's ethereal designs to Merge Records' handcrafted sleeves.
All Indie album covers
moisturizer
Wet Leg · 2025
Un Verano Sin Ti
Bad Bunny · 2022
folklore
Taylor Swift · 2020
Punisher
Phoebe Bridgers · 2020
Fetch the Bolt Cutters
Fiona Apple · 2020
Carrie & Lowell
Sufjan Stevens · 2015
Lonerism
Tame Impala · 2012
Vampire Weekend
Vampire Weekend · 2008
Person Pitch
Panda Bear · 2007
Neon Bible
Arcade Fire · 2007
The Reminder
Feist · 2007
Fox Confessor Brings the Flood
Neko Case · 2006
Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not
Arctic Monkeys · 2006
Silent Alarm
Bloc Party · 2005
Illinois
Sufjan Stevens · 2005
Hot Fuss
The Killers · 2004
Funeral
Arcade Fire · 2004
Fever to Tell
Yeah Yeah Yeahs · 2003
Transatlanticism
Death Cab for Cutie · 2003
Lifted or The Story Is in the Soil, Keep Your Ear to the Ground
Bright Eyes · 2002
Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots
The Flaming Lips · 2002
Turn on the Bright Lights
Interpol · 2002
Is This It
The Strokes · 2001
Figure 8
Elliott Smith · 2000
The Moon & Antarctica
Modest Mouse · 2000
In the Aeroplane Over the Sea
Neutral Milk Hotel · 1998
Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain
Pavement · 1994
Parklife
Blur · 1994
Spiderland
Slint · 1991
The Stone Roses
The Stone Roses · 1989
Surfer Rosa
Pixies · 1988
Louder Than Bombs
The Smiths · 1987
The Queen Is Dead
The Smiths · 1986
Meat Is Murder
The Smiths · 1985
Hatful of Hollow
The Smiths · 1984
Frequently asked questions
- What defines Indie album cover art?
- Independent labels gave designers freedom that major labels rarely allowed. The result: some of the most distinctive and personal album art ever created, from 4AD's ethereal designs to Merge Records' handcrafted sleeves.
- What are some of the most iconic Indie album covers?
- Notable covers featured on Behind the Covers include moisturizer by Wet Leg, Un Verano Sin Ti by Bad Bunny, folklore by Taylor Swift, Punisher by Phoebe Bridgers, and Fetch the Bolt Cutters by Fiona Apple.
- How many Indie album covers does Behind the Covers feature?
- Behind the Covers features 35 Indie cover stories spanning 1984–2025, with cover art by designers including Matt de Jong, Adrian Hernandez, and Fiona Apple.