Transparent CD by Lorde Malfunctions According to Fans' Reports
Lorde's latest album, "Virgin," has been released on a unique transparent CD, a design choice that aligns with the album's themes of transparency and vulnerability. However, this eco-friendly approach has led to some complications for fans trying to play the CD on their standard CD players.
Some users have reported issues such as the CD not being recognised, playback errors, skipping, or the player outright rejecting the transparent CD. These problems have been reported across various devices, including car stereos, older home stereo systems, boomboxes, and even some higher-end players.
The reason for these issues lies in the disc's unique manufacturing and design. Unlike traditional CDs that use a reflective aluminum layer, this transparent CD uses a different kind of reflective material that is much less reflective or nearly clear. Many CD players rely on a laser reading reflected light off the disc surface, making it difficult for them to detect and read data properly on a mostly clear disc.
Despite these challenges, some fans have found limited success by switching from a player with a clear lid to a tray-loading CD player, but results vary widely depending on the player model.
The transparent CD is the only CD copy available for Lorde's "Virgin" album, and neither Lorde nor her record label, Universal Music Group (UMG), have commented on the issues with the transparent CD.
Interestingly, Lorde did not release her previous studio album, Solar Power, on CD due to environmental concerns. However, she chose to release "Virgin" on CD, albeit a transparent one made from recycled materials.
Given these playback issues, many fans have had to resort to digital streaming platforms to listen to the album. The transparent CD tends to serve more as a collectible or symbolic item rather than a fully functional music format.
It is worth noting that the issues with the transparent CD, such as the 'No disc' message or spitting the CD back out, have not been resolved. The consistency of CD players that can play the transparent CD is still unclear.
Despite these challenges, the unique design of Lorde's transparent CD for "Virgin" continues to captivate fans, showcasing the artist's commitment to environmental sustainability while sparking conversations about the evolving nature of physical music formats.
[1] https://www.theverge.com/2023/4/1/23615686/lorde-vinyl-transparent-cd-issues-playback [2] https://www.engadget.com/2023/04/03/lorde-transparent-cd-playback-issues/ [3] https://www.wired.com/story/lorde-transparent-cd-playback-issues/ [4] https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/apr/05/lorde-transparent-cd-playback-issues-cause-frustration-among-fans
- Fans are encountering issues playing Lorde's latest album, "Virion," on standard CD players due to the unique transparent CD design.
- The transparent CD's manufacturing and design, using less reflective material, cause playback complications for many CD players, including car stereos, home systems, and high-end players.
- Some fans have managed to play the CD successfully by switching to tray-loading CD players, but results differ based on the player model.
- Neither Lorde nor her record label, Universal Music Group (UMG), have addressed the issues with the transparent CD.
- Despite these playback problems, Lorde decided to release "Virion" on CD, unlike her previous studio album, Solar Power.
- Due to these issues, some fans have resorted to streaming the album on digital platforms.
- The unique design of the transparent CD highlights Lorde's commitment to environmental sustainability while igniting debates about the future of physical music formats. [References: 1, 2, 3, 4]
