News

Lorde offers fans a ‘discless’ version of her new album, Solar Power

CDs bad. Vinyl fine, apparently

By Paul Sinclair

Comments

232

Lorde‘s newly announced album, Solar Power, will not be released on CD at all, but rather will be offered as a ‘discless’ physical product.

The New Zealand singer-songwriter will still make the record available on vinyl – indeed there are at least four different vinyl editions already – but CD buyers are going to be left disappointed and are offered what is in effectively a download dressed up in a physical package.

Lorde explained her thought process on her website:

I decided early on in the process of making this album that I also wanted to create an environmentally kind, forward-thinking alternative to the CD. I wanted this music box product to be similar in size, shape and price to a CD, to lie alongside it in a retail environment, but be something which stands apart – a plastic-free box that contains loads of extra visual content, handwritten notes, exclusive photos and a download card

The card gets you a high-quality download of the music, two exclusive bonus tracks and access to some special surprises along the way

It’s kind of like purchasing membership to a little club, one that’s comitted to the evolving nature of a modern album.

LORDE
Where’s the CD? The contents of the ‘discless’ box

Amazon in the UK describe this CD-free version as a “Discless Carbon Positive Format” but then ironically have it listed as a ‘vinyl’ format!

This ‘discless’ package is a “100 percent biodegradable hard eco box”. It comes with a hi-res album download (details not specified) and includes two bonus tracks, a poster, 32-page booklet and four postcards. Prices range from £16 to £19.

What are your thoughts on this? Is it just a gimmick? Does it even make any sense? Why is offering all that vinyl okay, but producing some CDs isn’t? And if this ‘discless’ package does indeed “lie alongside” CDs in a retail environment, people are surely going to expect a CD in it, aren’t they? Leave a comment on SDE.

Solar Power will be released on 20 August 2021.

Tracklisting

Solar Power Lorde / ‘Discless’ music box (no CD)

      1. The Path
      2. Solar Power
      3. California
      4. Stoned in the Nail Salon
      5. Fallen Fruit
      6. Secrets From a Girl (Who’s Seen It All)
      7. The Man with An Axe
      8. Dominoes
      9. Big Star
      10. Leader of a New Regime
      11. Mood Ring
      12. Oceanic Feeling

      Bonus Tracks

      1. Helen of Troy
      2. Hold No Grudge

SuperDeluxeEdition.com helps fans around the world discover physical music and discuss releases. To keep the site free, SDE participates in various affiliate programs, including Amazon and earns from qualifying purchases.

Related Content

232 Comments

Subscribe
Notify of
232 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments