Tribe Society: 27

By Robin Ervolina
Mixed tapes. Close your eyes and linger on that for a minute. Explore the melancholy you feel as you visualize popping a cassette into the tape deck. Let’s drive this wave of emotion up a notch. Your tape is a tribute to the infamous 27 Club, iconic artists who left the world too soon. The label says 27, and it's a gift to you from Tribe Society on the anniversary of Kurt Cobain's passing. Now push play.

NYC's genre obscura quartet released 27 today and it's streaming via YouTube. Seven iconic songs are repurposed, and Tribe Society's treatment is brilliant and inspired. This ghostly offering is unsettling in its dissonance, but compelling in its uniqueness. There is something sublime in the haunting tone of each cover in 27. Take note of this track list. It's hard to imagine anyone tackling these untouchables. Yet, Tribe Society was fearless in the spilling of musical challa to the 27.
Track List:

1. "People Are Strange" - The Doors
2. "On The Road Again" - Canned Heat
3. "Rehab" - Amy Winehouse
4. "Mercedes Benz" - Janis Joplin
5. "Tops Drop" - Fat Pat
6. "Crosstown Traffic" - Jimi Hendrix
7. "Heart-Shaped Box" - Nirvana

Covering artists across decades and genres, while maintaining a unified sound and mood, is a remarkable testament to Tribe Society's genius. 27 is eclectic and cohesive, and the 27 Club would be proud. In fact, I imagine they’re grooving in their graves, showing approval with a subtle head nod to each hypnotic beat. This is a project to listen to now, and to download for many future listens. The next time someone says "compilation" or "cover," remember Tribe Society and the bar set here today. As if you could forget …
Tribe Society is

Gavin Merlot (vocals/guitar)
Seth Hachen (flute/keyboard)
Brad Alderman (keyboard)
Phil Boucher (drums).