My Little Obsession: Collecting Stories in the Form of CDs

Okay, I think I can officially say that I have a little obsession with collecting CDs.

For some time now, one of my favorite hobbies has been collecting CDs. A lot of people my age would probably think it is a waste of money, since nowadays it is much easier to listen to music on Spotify, YouTube, or other platforms, but I love owning physical albums. I love opening the case, looking through the booklet, reading the lyrics, appreciating the artwork, and feeling like I have a small piece of a band's history in my hands.

To me, a CD is not just an object that plays music. It is a completely different experience. I love the feeling of owning something that belongs to an artist, something that was created with care and represents a specific moment in their career.

Collecting is not exactly a cheap hobby, especially when you are a teenager. I do not have a job or my own income, so almost everything I get comes from money I receive on my birthday or on special occasions. That is why I try to think carefully before buying something, compare prices, and always look for the best deal possible.

My collection so far is:

• System of a Down — System of a Down

• Nickelback — Silver Side Up

• Green Day — American Idiot

• Panic! At The Disco — A Fever You Can't Sweat Out

• Panic! At The Disco — Pretty. Odd.

• Panic! At The Disco — Vices & Virtues

• Panic! At The Disco — Too Weird to Live, Too Rare to Die!

• Panic! At The Disco — Death of a Bachelor

• Panic! At The Disco — Pray for the Wicked

• Papa Roach — Lovehatetragedy

• Nirvana — In Utero

• Pimpinela — De Corazón

• Green Day — Dookie

• Gorillaz — Demon Days

• The Phantom of the Opera (Mexican version)

• Metallica — Master of Puppets

• Linkin Park — Hybrid Theory

• Fall Out Boy — Infinity on High

• Fall Out Boy — Folie à Deux

• The Beatles — 1962–1966

• The Beatles — 1967–1970

• The Beatles — Anthology 3

• The Beatles — Live at the BBC

• My Chemical Romance — Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge (2004)

• My Chemical Romance — Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge (2025)

• My Chemical Romance — The Black Parade

• My Chemical Romance — Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys (Deluxe Edition)

• My Chemical Romance — The Black Parade Is Dead!

• My Chemical Romance — Life on the Murder Scene

• My Chemical Romance — ¡May Death Never Stop You!

• My Chemical Romance — Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge (Deluxe Edition)

• My Chemical Romance — The Black Parade (Deluxe Edition)

Yes... I think I can admit that I have a slight obsession with My Chemical Romance.

Out of all the artists I have in my collection, MCR is probably the band that means the most to me. I do not only love their songs, but also the entire universe they have created around their albums. Each era of the band has a completely different aesthetic, story, and identity: from the darker and more chaotic energy of Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge, to the theatrical and conceptual world of The Black Parade, and finally to the colorful and rebellious style of Danger Days.

I love that their albums do not feel like just a collection of songs, but rather complete experiences. The designs, booklets, illustrations, and all the small details make each edition feel special. Even when I own several versions of the same album, I feel like each one has something unique that makes it different from the others.

For me, collecting their CDs is also a way of keeping memories connected to the band. Every time I get a new album, I feel the same excitement I felt when I first discovered their music. It might seem exaggerated to own so many editions from the same band, but each one has a different value to me, and I do not regret having them.

I started by buying one or two albums that I liked and, little by little, this became a much bigger hobby. Now, every time I go on Vinted or Wallapop, I end up searching for CDs for hours. Most of my collection is second-hand because the prices are usually much better, and I also love the idea of giving these albums a second life. Some of them have small marks on the case or the booklet, but I feel like those imperfections give them personality and make every CD have its own story.

I know that compared to other collections, mine might not be huge, but it means a lot to me. Considering that I am a teenager, being able to gather 32 CDs is something I am really proud of.

I hope that in a few years this collection keeps growing. Maybe one day I will get every album that I have on my wishlist. Until then... I will keep checking Vinted and Wallapop almost every day as if it were a treasure hunt.