Lorde’s Transparent CD Won’t Play In Some CD Players

Lorde’s fourth studio album, Virgin, released on June 27, 2025. Fans who opted for a physical copy of the album on CD did so for the unique format—it’s entirely transparent. The only downside? Some CD players don’t recognize the disc as playable.

The CD edition is packaged in a standard jewel case with 20-page full-color booklet and is only available at select retailers. The disc is made of entirely transparent plastic, with all components marked as recyclable. Despite the novelty and aesthetic of the transparent CD, widespread reports on social media and fan forums indicate problems playing the disc. The disc often fails in car CD systems and some traditional CD players like Sony’s Discman.

The issue appears to stem from the unique construction of the disc—standard CDs rely on a reflective aluminum layer to bounce the laser back to the optical pickup. The transparent CD uses a different reflective technology or coating that may not be universally compatible with all CD players. Some CD collectors speculate that the disc may employ a dichroic or polarized reflective player that only reflects the specific infrared wavelengths used by some players—but not all—leading the playback failures in certain devices.

The album’s visual identity as well as transparent CD are closely tied to Lorde’s stated desire for ‘full transparency’ both in the literal sense and as a metaphor for openness and authenticity. Lorde has described the album as an attempt to document her femininity, exploring themes of rawness, innocence, elegance, and androgyny.

Fans have also noted how this release marks a departure from Lorde’s previous environmental stance. Her last album, Solar Power, was deliberately released without a physical CD in an effort to reduce waste. The return of a physical format with the release of Virgin have sparked debates about fans and collectors between the balance of collectibility and environmental responsibility. Many fans note the CD is marketed as recyclable, but question its existence if it’s not universally compatible with all CD players on the market that fans are likely to own.