Lorde offers fans a ‘discless’ version of her new album, Solar Power
CDs bad. Vinyl fine, apparently
![](https://superdeluxeedition.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/cover-1.jpeg)
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
![](https://superdeluxeedition.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/discless_spread600.jpg)
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.
Compare prices and pre-order
![](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41jpyT5-AHL._SL75_.jpg)
Lorde
Solar Power - discless box
Compare prices and pre-order
![](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41vzsg9LbhL._SL75_.jpg)
Lorde
Solar Power - vinyl LP
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Tracklisting
![](https://superdeluxeedition.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/discless_front.jpg)
Solar Power Lorde / ‘Discless’ music box (no CD)
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- The Path
- Solar Power
- California
- Stoned in the Nail Salon
- Fallen Fruit
- Secrets From a Girl (Who’s Seen It All)
- The Man with An Axe
- Dominoes
- Big Star
- Leader of a New Regime
- Mood Ring
- Oceanic Feeling
Bonus Tracks
- Helen of Troy
- Hold No Grudge
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By Paul Sinclair
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