Warm the Bell - You Are the Sun

Warm The Bell

You Are The Sun
self-released; 2013

4.1 out of 5

By Dan Alcantara

An amalgam of various parts of a local music scene always results in a very distinct sense of place. As our country becomes more and more the same everywhere, the one thing that remains is the local sound of the music. Rock music doesn't sound the same everywhere and that holds true with Warm The Bell. They're the result of local scene veterans coming together to write before bringing in a rhythm section to become a full band. The original duo, songwriters Sean Robbins and Vickie Burick of the band Nevada, formed in 2010. They were later joined by bassist Sam Brinkley and drummer Nick Shore.

After existing as a band for three years, they've finally released their debut album, You Are The Sun. It's a very strong debut with a great blend of late 60's rock music melded with the mindset of an alt-country band. Rarely is there a single person singing. Robbins and Burick often overlap vocals, occasionally singing separate parts while other times singing simple harmonies. This is especially true in "Little Bird," a song that could survive on the vocal arrangement alone. "Big Love" has a very familiar feel to it, though it's a feel that pulls from a lot of different areas. The chorus melody reminds me a Cat Power song while the guitars are fuzzy and ends up reminding me of the late great Headlights.

The album's title track is a bit of an outlier from the start, the guitars are going crazy and there's a lot of ambience while the bass and drums keep the song steady. The song takes quite a turn as well, mellowing out halfway through and changing time signature. "Cold In March" reminds me of good 90's rock music. It's a simple song with doo-wop background vocals, a catchy chorus and some great pedal steel guitar work. I can almost hear REM doing a version of "Not Enough,” a song that also features some great harmonies. "Country Fair" feels just like a day out minus having a slight distrust for the staff that runs the fair. It's another simple song that succeeds at what it's trying to do, remind you of the feeling of going to the fair and eating cotton candy and playing games and going home.

Overall, this album is one brimming with a sense of nostalgia. It works to take you back to the places where you formed memories and lets you revel in it for a while.

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