Lorde’s fans are having trouble enjoying her new album, Virgin, on CD. The special edition CD is made out of transparent plastic and was only sold through Lorde’s webstore. While the design is eye-catching and fully recyclable, many fans say their stereos cannot play it.
Reports on Reddit and TikTok show that many CD players, car stereos, and older sound systems cannot read the transparent disc. Even when some computers can read the CD, fans say the sound quality is poor, with distortion and other playback issues. Newer devices with advanced sensors seem to work better, but older hardware struggles the most.
One fan said, “Very cool looking, but doesn’t work in three of my players.” Another TikTok user showed her car ejecting the CD and called the design “not fit for purpose.”
Lorde released the see-through CD as her only physical option for Virgin because she wanted it to be recyclable. She chose not to make CDs at all for her 2021 album Solar Power, hoping to reduce waste. But for many fans, having no traditional CD as a backup has been disappointing.
At this time, Lorde and Universal Music have not commented on the problems with the transparent CD. Fans say they love the look of the disc, but wish it could actually play in their devices.
Many hope the album will be pressed on a standard CD in the future. For now, Lorde’s most dedicated collectors may have a rare item that looks great—just not one they can listen to.
Stay tuned for updates if Lorde responds or if a new version of the CD is released.
