Sales of CDs are climbing — yep, compact discs are back and Gen Z is making it weirdly cool again. Rolling Stone even says kids are embracing CDs as physical media makes a comeback, and I gotta admit: watching them collect jewel cases like sports cards is peak nostalgia. We spent 15–20 years ripping these to iTunes, donating boxes, and then boom — now they're “retro decor” for kids who don't even own a CD player. I busted my thumb trying to open the plastic, the jewel case cracked, and I smiled anyway — that 12-second shuffle pause really makes you think about life, right? So millennials, hold onto your garage boxes — apparently our retirement plan is just waiting for Gen Z to rediscover the stuff under the car seat.

Takeaways:

• I laughed when I saw Gen Z collecting CDs even though they don't own players yet, classic.
• We joked about ripping, garage-selling, and leaving giant CD binders in cars until the sun welded them together.
• Rolling Stone says sales are climbing, and I get why — artwork, liner notes, and that physical vibe matters more.
• We poked fun at CD changers, anti-skip features, and the glorious 12-second pause between songs for deep reflection.
• Hang on to your old CDs, millennials — they're cheaper than vinyl and might actually be someone's future retirement plan.

Haystack and Gen Z has discovered the compact disc.

Millennials everywhere have felt a pain behind their eyes because apparently CDs are cool again.

Sales of CDs are climbing.

Younger people are buying them.

And Rolling Stone says that Gen Z is embracing the compact disc as physical media makes a comeback.

The newest thing in digital music is the oldest thing.

Compact discs are back.

It's all the experience.

It took me forever to get the plastic wrap off, but once I finally did, the jewel case broke.

So cool.

The ultimate listening experience awaits when you load six discs into the CD changer and put it into shuffle mode.

The 12 second wait between songs really lets me reflect on what I just heard.

And if you're on the go, dust off your discman, but make sure you turn on the anti Skip feature.

Skip feature, skip feature, skip feature.

That sounds way cleaner than when a vinyl record skips.

Best of all, there's still a box of CDs in your parents basement that was never brought to goodwill.

That costs a lot less than Spotify.

Take a step back in time with Compaq.

Uh oh, apparently we had an issue with that one.

Uh, I think this is amazing because we spent 15, 20 years getting rid of these things.

Ripping them to itunes, selling them at garage sales, donating them.

Left giant binders of CDs underneath car seats until the sun welded them together.

And now Gen Z comes along and goes, have you seen these neat little silver albums?

Why yes, kiddos, we have, we have.

We've cut our fingers opening the plastic.

We've.

I just love a lot of younger people buying CDs that don't even own CD players.

They're, they're collecting them like dadgum sports cards or something.

So the CD has gone from music technology to wall decor in one generation.

But I do kind of get it.

There's something nice about owning the album, the artwork, the liner notes, the lyrics, the little booklet that you read while you're listening.

And CDs are cheaper than vinyl, so hang on to your old CDs, millennials.

Apparently retirement planning is now just waiting for Gen Z to rediscover the things in your garage.