Sorry About Dresden
Encyclopedia
Sorry About Dresden is a four-man indie rock
band from Chapel Hill, N.C. Since forming in 1997, the band has made a modest splash in the national indie scene.
Combining elements of traditional alternative rock
and punk rock
, the band has drawn comparisons to Pavement
, Superchunk
, and the Archers of Loaf
. The music’s sound is guitar-driven with a twangy, chiming feel.
Though they use political-historical references in a number of their song and album titles and in the name of the band itself (see Bombing of Dresden in World War II
), Sorry About Dresden’s music is largely apolitical. Lyrics tend to be melancholy or about weather.
Sorry About Dresden has released three full-length albums, an EP, and has appeared on a number of compilations and finally found a home on Saddle Creek Records. The band’s first release was The Mayor Will Abdicate in 1999 under the independent label Route 14 Records. This was followed by How the Cold War Began and The Convenience of Indecision, both released in 2001 under different labels.
Sorry About Dresden's biggest commercial success came by way of their fourth album Let it Rest with Saddle Creek Records
, an Omaha-based label started by Justin Oberst, brother of the band’s guitarist (and co-singer) Matt Oberst. The other members of Sorry About Dresden are drummer James Hepler
, singer/guitarist Eric Roehrig, and bassist Matt Tomich. Matt Oberst's younger brother, Conor Oberst
of the popular indie act Bright Eyes, is also on the label.
Over the years Sorry About Dresden has made a name for itself on the college rock scene, mostly through word of mouth and favorable reviews in independent publications.
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
band from Chapel Hill, N.C. Since forming in 1997, the band has made a modest splash in the national indie scene.
Combining elements of traditional alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
and punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
, the band has drawn comparisons to Pavement
Pavement (band)
Pavement is an American alternative rock band that formed in Stockton, California in 1989. In their career, they achieved a significant cult following, and they were called the best band of the 1990s by prominent music critics Robert Christgau and Stephen Thomas Erlewine...
, Superchunk
Superchunk
Superchunk is an American indie rock band from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, consisting of singer/guitarist Mac McCaughan, guitarist Jim Wilbur, bassist Laura Ballance, and drummer Jon Wurster. Formed in 1989, they were one of the bands that helped define the Chapel Hill music scene of the 1990s...
, and the Archers of Loaf
Archers of Loaf
Archers of Loaf is an American indie-rock band originally from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, formed in 1990. The group toured extensively and released a total of four studio albums, a collection album, numerous singles and EPs, and a live album which was released after the band broke up in...
. The music’s sound is guitar-driven with a twangy, chiming feel.
Though they use political-historical references in a number of their song and album titles and in the name of the band itself (see Bombing of Dresden in World War II
Bombing of Dresden in World War II
The Bombing of Dresden was a military bombing by the British Royal Air Force and the United States Army Air Force and as part of the Allied forces between 13 February and 15 February 1945 in the Second World War...
), Sorry About Dresden’s music is largely apolitical. Lyrics tend to be melancholy or about weather.
Sorry About Dresden has released three full-length albums, an EP, and has appeared on a number of compilations and finally found a home on Saddle Creek Records. The band’s first release was The Mayor Will Abdicate in 1999 under the independent label Route 14 Records. This was followed by How the Cold War Began and The Convenience of Indecision, both released in 2001 under different labels.
Sorry About Dresden's biggest commercial success came by way of their fourth album Let it Rest with Saddle Creek Records
Saddle Creek Records
Saddle Creek Records is an American record label based in Omaha, Nebraska. Started as a college class project on entrepreneurship, the label was founded by Conor Oberst and Justin Oberst in 1993 . Conor soon turned over his role in the company to Robb Nansel...
, an Omaha-based label started by Justin Oberst, brother of the band’s guitarist (and co-singer) Matt Oberst. The other members of Sorry About Dresden are drummer James Hepler
James Hepler
James Hepler is an American musician. Associated with several local North Carolina musical groups, Hepler is an adept musician, mastering several musical instruments and is most recognized for his drumming accomplishments playing with the bands I Was Totally Destroying It and Sorry About...
, singer/guitarist Eric Roehrig, and bassist Matt Tomich. Matt Oberst's younger brother, Conor Oberst
Conor Oberst
Conor Mullen Oberst is an American singer-songwriter best known for his work in Bright Eyes. He has also played in several other bands, including Desaparecidos, Norman Bailer , Commander Venus, Park Ave., Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band, and Monsters of Folk.-Musical career:Oberst began...
of the popular indie act Bright Eyes, is also on the label.
Over the years Sorry About Dresden has made a name for itself on the college rock scene, mostly through word of mouth and favorable reviews in independent publications.
Albums
- The Mayor Will Abdicate (1999) - Route 14 Records
- Rock School (2001) - Moment Before Impact Records
- How the Cold War Began (2001) - Moment Before Impact Records
- The Convenience of Indecision (2001) - Saddle Creek Records
- Let it Rest (2003) - Saddle Creek Records
- "Sorry About Dresden/The Jagular Drop 7" Split" (2006) - Horn Records
Singles
- "Crusades"/"Me and Kim Il Sung" (1997) - Dude City Records
- Sorry About Dresden/The White Octave ("What The Sea Left Behind Part 2" / "Felix Culpa") (2000) - Moment Before Impact Records
- Rock School ("State You Hate") (2001) - Moment Before Impact Records
Compilations
- Saddle Creek 50Saddle Creek 50Saddle Creek 50 is a compilation by Saddle Creek Records in honor of being the label's 50th album release. It was released in 2003 and features one album track and one non-album track by each of the bands then recording for the label.-Disc 1:...
(2002 · Saddle Creek) - Lagniappe: A Saddle Creek Benefit for Hurricane KatrinaLagniappe (album)Lagniappe is a compilation album put together by Omaha record label Saddle Creek, after the events of Hurricane Katrina. It is a benefit album, and all profits from its sale are donated to the Red Cross' relief efforts in New Orleans....
(2005 · Saddle Creek) - Sing For Your Meat: A Tribute to Guided By Voices (2011 · No More Fake Labels)