Sorry About Dresden was an indie rock band from Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The band formed in 1997 and was signed to

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 Mike Mogis and Justin Oberst in 1993 (as Lumberjack Records). Mogis soon turned over hi ...

Career

Combining elements of traditional

alternative rock Alternative rock, or alt-rock, is a category of rock music that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1970s and became widely popular in the 1990s. "Alternative" refers to the genre's distinction from mainstream or commerci ...

and punk rock, the band has drawn comparisons to Pavement, Superchunk, and the

Archers of Loaf Archers of Loaf is an American indie rock band originally formed in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, in 1991. The group toured extensively and released four studio albums, one compilation, numerous singles and EPs, and a live album which was release ...

. 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 Though they use political-historical references in a number of their song and album titles and in the name of the band itself (''see''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 The bombing of Dresden was a joint British and American aerial bombing attack on the city of Dresden, the capital of the German state of Saxony, during World War II. In four raids between 13 and 15 February 1945, 772 heavy bombers of the Roya ...

), 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. Sorry About Dresden's biggest commercial success came by way of their fourth album ''Let it Rest'' with

, an Omaha-based label started by

Justin Oberst 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 Mike Mogis and Justin Oberst in 1993 (as Lumberjack Records). Mogis soon turned over his ...

, 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 Conor Mullen Oberst (born February 15, 1980) is an American singer-songwriter best known for his work in Bright Eyes. He has also played in several other bands, including Desaparecidos, the Faint (previously named Norman Bailer), Commander V ...

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. Singer and guitarist Matt Oberst died on November 27, 2016, at the age of 42. The song "Ghost (Is Leaving Me)", recorded during "The Convenience Of Indecision" sessions, was released posthumously on October 22, 2021.

Discography

Albums

*''The Mayor Will Abdicate'' (1999) - Route 14 Records *''The Convenience of Indecision'' (2001) -

*''Let it Rest'' (2003) -

Singles

*''"Crusades"/"Me and Kim Il Sung"'' (1998) - Dude City Records *Sorry About Dresden/

The White Octave The White Octave was a rock band from Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The group was founded shortly after Steve Pederson left Cursive, and was initially a trio with Lincoln Hancock and Robert Biggers before Finn Cohen was added on guitar. They relea ...

7" split ("What The Sea Left Behind Part 2" / "Felix Culpa") (2000) - Moment Before Impact Records *''Rock School'' ("State You Hate", "Lachrymose/Obsequious/Vehement/Elated") (2000) - Moment Before Impact Records * Bright Eyes/

Rilo Kiley Rilo Kiley ( ) was an American indie rock band based in Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1998, the band consisted of Jenny Lewis, Blake Sennett, Pierre de Reeder, and Dave Rock. The group released their debut album ''Take-Offs and Landings' ...

/Sorry About Dresden 7" split ("Candid Camera") (2002) - Devil in the Woods Magazine Issue #55 *Sorry About Dresden/Cold Sides 7" split ("Leviathan") (2003) - Sit n' Spin Records *Sorry About Dresden/The Jagular Drop 7" split (2006) - Horn Records *Ghost (Is Leaving Me) (2021)-Saddle Creek Records

EPs

* How The Cold War Began (2001)-Moment Before Impact Records

Contributions and appearances

*''The Bridges of Dissonant County Vol. 1'' ("What Gives You Butterflies?") (1998) - 2A Records *''Pet Sounds Volume One: A Benefit For Alter'' ("My Universe") (1999) - Vital Cog Records *''NE vs NC'' ("Some Precision") (2002) - The Redemption Recording CO. *''Patchwork: A Compilation'' ("An Unmade Bed") (2002) - Mere Exposure *''

Saddle Creek 50 ''Saddle 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. Track l ...

'' ("Sick and Sore", "People Have Parties") (2002) -

*''I Am A Cold Rock. I Am Dull Grass: A Tribute to

Will Oldham Joseph Will Oldham (born January 15, 1970) is an American singer-songwriter and actor. From 1993 to 1997, he performed and recorded in collaboration with dozens of other musicians under variations of Palace (Palace, Palace Flophouse, Palace Br ...

'' ("All Gone, All Gone") (2004) - Tract Records *'' Lagniappe: A Saddle Creek Benefit for Hurricane Katrina'' ("Sunrise: Norfolk, Virginia") (2005) -

*''Sing For Your Meat: A Tribute to Guided By Voices'' ("Echos Myron") (2011) - No More Fake Labels

References

External links

sorryaboutdresden.comSorry About Dresden MyspaceSaddle Creek Records
{{Authority control Indie rock musical groups from North Carolina Musical groups from Chapel Hill-Carrboro, North Carolina Saddle Creek Records artists Musical groups established in 1997 Musical groups disestablished in 2016