[Printed Matter review]

Our Soundtrack Project

a compilation of a survey in the form of a ‘zine

review by Dick Chinley

Josh Armstrong is the principal or one of the principals of this little – I don’t know if “experiment” is the right adjective, but for lack of a better term, it’s an experimental, rather small, but full size (8.5×11″) in form, ‘zine that Armstrong has developed in order to publish lists of the most important music in many ways to those who contribute their musical memories. Armstrong’s MO is to send out a pretty easy questionnaire to a bunch of people – I don’t know, friends, associates, people he admired or maybe just some random sampling too – with the idea of collecting a whole bunch of lists of many individuals’ – music lovers, I would assume most of them to be, whether that was preplanned or not, I don’t know – and they were all asked to submit a list of some or all of their most precious songs by particular artists, songs that represented pivotal moments or eras in one’s life; songs that evoked certain powerful memories – whether for good or ill; songs that maybe were quite cathartic and got the person through a rough time in their life, a song maybe that helped give meaning to one’s chaotic, unnerving, senseless life. Jeez – what a novel idea! The idea being picking out a bunch of great tunes that are and/or were quite special to me and have done myriad things to get me through times, brought me joy when I was sick or depressed and for various other significant milestones and markers at various points in my life. If you’d like to find out more about this interesting and very personal project, find out how you could contribute to future issues of “Our Soundtrack Project”, as this is an ongoing ‘zine, go to their myspace at http://www.myspace.com/oursoundtrackproject.

DC