The collection of physical music is arguably so popular because of the connection that people are able to make with the medium. An exceptional record can harken memories of going to a concert or traveling to a festival; an iconic album art can spark images of you and your best friend taking turns sharing just discovered music to each other. A somber guitar riff can rouse gut-wrenching emotion that only the musician can truly associate with, while a clever verse can make a crowd of people scream and shout and jump and shove. The album art, the first impression of an album for most people, is often a work of art in and of itself, and that is best appreciated on the gatefold sleeve of a record's packaging. A captivating album art can help make a band's album a commercial success and can complement or forecast the feel of the album. Take Inter Arma's record "The Cavern", on the bottom row, second from the left. The monochromatic image of the cave on the cover exudes a dark, consuming, gaping maw in the earth, exemplifying a sense of overwhelming atmosphere the further you imagine yourself delving into the chasm. It's absolutely appropriate, considering the album itself is a single, 45 minute sludgey, droning expanse of a song that is simultaneously hideous and gorgeous.
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