It seems that, in the grand art of picking a band name, the Los Angeles four-piece of Almost Classy chose to go with one that they could live, rather than simply a throwaway phrase that sounds nice on an album cover or t-shirt. Since the band first came together in 2009, they’ve seemingly put a lot of work into flirting with the fringes of class. Luckily for all concerned, it seems they’ve put an equal, if not greater effort into making sure their musical work gets off to a flying start.
Hailing from across America and currently residing in the vibrant realms of Southern California, it’s difficult to pin down Almost Classy into a single genre. We’re all guilty of abusing the “indie” moniker at times, but such a description doesn’t exactly do justice to this particular group, who, in their eyes, settle neatly into the centre in a Venn diagram of pop-rock and country. They’re no Taylor Swift, however, offering far more substance and intrigue even in their developing stages as a band. The release of their debut EP is less than a month away now and it should certainly be a more widely-anticipated launch than it currently is. Their frequent ventures across California and the rest of the States has done a little to boost this anticipation, as has the release of the EP’s leading single ‘I’m That Man’. Reminiscent some of the more recent Pearl Jam tracks, the band’s debut single is a punchy entrance for a band who are all about first impressions. It’s an impression that sticks, though, and ‘I’m That Man’ is likely to be a track that can stick in your life for quite a while.
Elsewhere on the self-titled release the band continue to impress, with opening effort ‘Killer’ feeling like a modern Crosby, Stills and Nash with an almost reggae-like break in the middle. It’s certainly a track to kick the EP off on a high, and with Aaron Dernbach’s leading of a thoroughly enjoyable vocal frontline, Almost Classy sound picture perfect already. ‘Sunrise’ and ‘City in the Sun’ are equally solid tracks, striking chords both instrumentally and lyrically, with arms and lungs working smartly in unison. The former is perhaps Dernbach’s best performance on the EP, also benefiting once again from the harmonic vocal backing delivered by bassist Devin McNichol and guitarist Rob Cunliffe. The role of Ian Lowe on drums should not be overlooked either, of course, tying the whole quartet together with apparent natural ease. ‘City in the Sun’ drifts back toward the realms of reggae-rock in the verses, though keeping the alt-country infusion that coats the record. Eventually, though, the time comes for the EP to be wrapped up, and ‘More Than Lovers’ is the track given the honour of closing what is already sounding like a resounding success of a debut release. A capella vocal harmonies serve as the track’s introduction, before the instrumental section kicks in and the track seems to dance through its duration with a stylish and – forgive me – almost classy vigour.
Once again, when it comes to first impressions, Almost Classy have only the best in mind. Whether they’re play in your stereo or on a stage in front of you, the SoCal quartet are all about putting smiles on faces and ensuring their music leaves you nothing less than satisfied. There is much more of the ladder to climb for this fledgling American four-piece, of course, but this is the kind of band that the phrase “bursting with promise” was created for.
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