When you look at the cover of an album, you should know exactly how it sounds. It may seem like an odd conundrum, but the artwork of a record can often — whether subconsciously or explicitly -— affect one's experience with the music within. Maybe it's an elaborate, commissioned piece of art. Maybe it's a photo that captures just the right kind of moment. Whatever the sleeve is, we know a great one when we see it, as it intrinsically ties our emotions to the music. Of course an immensely popular album, while immediately recognizable, doesn't necessarily mean that its cover is legendary — just popular. Thus when it comes to listing the most iconic album covers of all time, legendary artists like Michael Jackson, for example, won't make the cut here, as his album covers are just that: extremely popular. Topics like this are meant to inspire healthy debate, so let's dive into this list of the "most iconic album covers of all time." Let's find out how they came to be and why they remain hallmarks of any music lov