There’s Musical “Perks [to] Being a Wallflower”

The soundtrack for the upcoming film will have audiences jamming in the car or as they wait in line at the movie theater.

Image from http://www.impawards.com

Novelist Stephen Chbosky’s Perks of Being A Wallflower was first published in 1999. Now, over a decade later, the novel is seeing a new wave of success and is generating a fair amount of attention. Thanks to the upcoming film adaptation, young adult readers are seeking out, some even rereading, Chbosky’s timeless novel.

A quintessential “coming of age” tale, Perks of Being A Wallflower explores the darker side of adolescence. Narrated by an unknown teenager who goes by the alias “Charlie,” readers are brought into the story by partaking in the letters Charlie sends to an anonymous person. The setting is very vague, but the thoughts, experiences, and emotions depicted are right on cue with common adolescent issues.

Set in the early 90’s, the story unfolds in the suburbs of Pittsburgh. Quirky, unintentionally hipster, and dramatic until the end, the novel all but begs for an equally pleasing musical companion. Fans rejoice, because that’s exactly what we got!

Curated by author-turned-director Chbosky, the tracklisting is as follows:

1. The Samples – Could It Be Another Change
2. Dexys Midnight Runners – Come On Eileen
3. Galaxie 500 – Tugboat
4. New Order – Temptation
5. The Innocence Mission – Evensong
6. The Smiths – Asleep
7. Cracker – Low
8. Sonic Youth – Teenage Riot
9. XTC – Dear God
10. Cocteau Twins – Pearly-Dewdrops’ Drops
11. Michael Brook – Charlie’s Last Letter
12. David Bowie – Heroes

“Over many years, I have collected songs,” said Chbosky in the album’s liner notes. “I’ve shared them with friends. And they have shared their favorites with me. Some of the songs are popular. Some of them are not known by a whole lot of people. But they are all great in their own way. And since these songs have meant a lot to me, I just wanted you have them as a soundtrack for whatever you need them to be for your life.”

The soundtrack is set for release September 18, a mere 3 days before the film hits theaters.