All artwork by Adam Watkins

Ed. Now that the dust has settled on this weekend' three-day Tower Groove LP release epic, we'd like to leave you with one last thought about the collective (for now). Hopefully this information on the artwork adorning the vinyl you bought will give you something to think about as you're spinning through its 21 tracks.

The newly minted musicians' collective Tower Groove Records is still in its infancy, but its 22 bands (so far) and four founders have big ambitions for its future. Or at least open minds. But before they released any music, last weekend's double-LP compilation included, they needed a logo that would speak equally for all of those first bands and the score that will feature on the next record. Below, Tone Rodent's Adam Watkins walks RFT Music through the symbolism of the group's artwork, both accidental and overt -- and what exactly is going on in the album cover above.

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Beth Bombara at last year's RFT Awards. Photo by Jon Gitchoff

Who is excited for Jimmy Eat World on Saturday? It's been six and a half years since the pop-punk band made an appearance in St. Louis, and we'll venture that a fair number of the fine readers of A to Z have made out with someone while listening to this band and its ilk. Personally, we would never (ahem). You may not be able to re-capture that magic listening to the original, but local singer Beth Bombara has been known to spellbind every once and then. She recorded a cover of "Hear You Me"; our friends at I Went To A Show have the exclusive stream.

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Back in the day, Peter Frampton showed us the way, thanks to a before-its-time Heil Talk Box and luscious feathered hair. Recently, he's become an avid Twitter user, won a Grammy for his instrumental album, Fingerprints, and unleashed a summer tour with Yes. Above all, Frampton will be releasing a new album, Thank You Mr. Churchill, on April 27. Here's the cover art. There's a lot to unpack here.

After 40 years, German metal band Scorpions is finally calling it quits. They've rocked us like a hurricane and seen us through winds of change -- and now Sting in the Tail, its forthcoming record, will be its last studio effort. What better way to go out than with yet another album with a cheeky pun in its name -- and song titles such as "Raised on Rock," "No Limit," "Rockzone" and "The Spirit of Rock"? None more black.

Peter Gabriel's new album, Scratch My Back, is out next week here in the states. It's a covers album and features no drums or guitars. Yes, you read that right. Gabriel's doing his own interpretation of songs by Arcade Fire, Bon Iver, Radiohead, Elbow, David Bowie and other seminal acts. I love Peter Gabriel, but I'll be honest: This put me to sleep. This album cover, on the other hand, strikes me as a bit...well...Georgia O'Keeffe? What say you?

Electro-indie-funk-hippie-whatever act MGMT is releasing its anticipated second album on April 13, titled Congratulations. The cover for this album was revealed earlier this week, and it's a creation from Anthony Ausgang, who's known for his cartoonish art in the genre known as "Lowbrow." Elsewhere on the Internet, it's been compared to Sega's alien buddies, Toe Jam & Earl. I can't stop singing the DuckTales theme song whenever I see it. And you?

The Rockabye Baby!: Lullaby Renditions of... series is self-explanatory. Each release focuses on making tunes from one rock band palatable enough for the naptime set. Past volumes have featured Metallica, Tool, Beach Boys, Coldplay, the Pixies and the Beatles. However, the latest one to cross my desk is a collection of slowed-down, softened Journey tunes. "Don't Stop Believin'" features a croaking frog(!), while chimes, marimbas and twinkling percussion burnish "Who's Crying Now" and "Wheel in the Sky." And heck, "Lovin' Touchin', Squeezin'" is almost funky -- despite the molasses tempo, the percussion flourishes show some serious sass. The artwork for these releases is almost as cute -- see below. It's also our "Caption This!" honoree of the week.

Last week's Jeff Beck album cover fun was so successful, I decided to do it again. Here's the cover for indie-rock woodland sprite Joanna Newsom's new one, Have One On Me. What comes to your mind when you see this? Comment below. As an added bonus: I modified the cover slightly after the jump; couldn't help myself. If you come across a new album cover that's particularly....something, email me. It just might end up as a post.

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