^ Good one, TH !

I can well believe that, because by the time Pet Sounds came out, other record companies were taking much more care over their cover art, even for fledgling bands, let alone mega-earners like the Beach Boys.

Couldn't even be bothered to put a shirt on? Yeah, that's lazy.

Apart from being iconic and everything, this one is pretty lazy really:-

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/i...Xrgwg&usqp=CAU

It does a great job of presenting the shock-factor of the words, but in other regards the front was pretty unimaginative, except for the pink banner with the wacky, don't-care script that would become a hallmark of punk. To put this album cover together, at least no-one had to trouble themselves with a photo shoot.

Punk or not punk? This Monty Python cover also makes a point of not caring - or of being inspired, I'm not sure which:-

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/i...FOh0g&usqp=CAU

Lazy in another way were album covers like this, of which, back in the 60s, there seemed to be hundreds, all following the formula: girl+track list:-

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/i...Hl6oA&usqp=CAU

Those were albums not recorded by the original artists; some kind of cheapo copyright deal I suppose. Other musicians/orchestra leaders became famous enough for their easy-listening instrumentals that they got promoted up to the next level of album-art formula: girl on beach at sunset+artist's name.

I remember someone as an Adult saying something like,"Even as a kid I instantly knew Pat Benatar's "Get Nervous," album had a lazy album cover. :D

Prince looks bored out of his mind on that album cover. His face is figuratively blank.

Well it was his first album, and he was only a kid doing everything himself, so maybe give the guy a break.

Or he might haunt you... :pssst:

You want lazy album covers? Who hyphenates the word "and"? Jesus Christ!
https://i.discogs.com/9vhTVw58oxLy3Q...xMC5qcGVn.jpeg