The Sad Bastard Book Club

The Sad Bastard Book Club was formed in 2004 as an actual book club in San Francisco. Since then, it has become a musical project of varying members and sounds. Over the past 5 years, they have created a number of conflicting biographies, making biographical information purposely sketchy and unreliable. A current version can be found at their website www.sadbastardbookclub.com. The group released a number of one-off CDs from 2004-2007. Many of these recordings were put out by Devil's Ruin Records in 2008 as the album The Collected Short Stories of Carrie Anne Crowe.

The group released a number of one-off CDs from 2004-2007. Many of these recordings were put out by Devil's Ruin Records in 2008 as the album The Collected Short Stories of Carrie Anne Crowe. (An audio book of the same title was released featuring stories about the songs and some extra tracks as well.) Due to this CD, the Sad Bastard Book Club is often grouped into the "gothic americana" genre. This isn't entirely accurate. There is a folk influence in what they do, but their newer material is leaning towards a heavier and less straight forward sound. As the band's website mentions, they currently sound like "a doom metal band playing gothic americana music in Mexico." Some of this transition can be heard on the You Gave it Your Best... Unfortunately That's Not Saying Much EP released in 2009.