I did some research, and a bagman is typically a 'collection man' who works for a mob that "gets" things from people, or gets rid of people. But the way the song is written, with mentions of microfilm and government documents, I view it as more of a double-agent mole sort of deal. To me, the song has an early '60s Cold War feel, and that's what I'm going for in the album art, front and back.
Final Project
Brief
Description: An album book for a single vinyl LP of The Decemberists song The Bagman’s Gambit.
Sender: The album.
Audience: The audience is primarily people who are both a fan of The Decemberists and have an eye and a thing for good album art with the bonus of it being on a 7” Vinyl to add to the classic theme of the song. It is also for people who like to collect vinyl LP’s, who are still a prominent and niche force of retro enthusiasts and hipsters alike.
Message: The Decemberists are a band that transcends time with their styles and themes, and this cover should catch the viewer’s eye with its retroly-current, vinyl book design.
Purpose: The purpose of the album cover is to catch the vinyl LP enthusiasts eye, then draw them, and at the last minute, pounce upon their judgement, making them succumb to buying this unique and wonderfully designed album single.
Specs: 3x 7”x7” vinyl book and vinyl records of different color schemes
Concepts: Use of a limited color pallet, human and object figures with very few defining attributes. The narrative of the song is a 60s-70s Cold War spy affair story, and the art will reflect that. The back will contain lyrics as well as album art relating to the narrative and in cooperation with the style of the cover.
Schedule: March 29th: Brief; April 3rd: Concept Roughs; April 5th: Tight Rough; April 12th: Tight Comp; April 17th: Final Project Due
