:: Yidcore - They Tried To Kill Us. They Failed. Let’s Eat!

Yidcore

When it comes to producing an original slant within the familiar punk-pop rock genre, you really have to hand it to Melbourne outfit Yidcore. Although combing religion with punk rock is nothing new, Yidcore isn't afraid to blend their traditional Jewish beliefs with punk-pop rock, which gives the band that something different from almost all within the genre. Having somewhat established themselves with two less than stellar prior full-length releases, the four-piece act is back once again with its third full-length release ‘They Tried To Kill Us. They Failed. Let’s Eat!’. They make their intentions known on the opening title track ‘They Tried To Kill Us. They Failed. Let’s Eat!’, with the lyrical content proudly hailing the continuing existence of the Jewish faith (along with their own longevity). But it’s the musical side of Yidcore’s sound that surprises the most, with the traditional sounds blended perfectly into the familiar punk format, which shows the maturity of the band in the last couple of years. The band takes a shot at The Thin White Duke (and Phil Collins too for that matter) in ‘The Truth About David Bowie?’, which is strangely followed quickly with a tribute to Atom And His Package in ‘Happy New Year Atom’.

Other topics covering throughout the album include resolutions to never again get as drunk as the night before, the appeal of skinheads (‘Skinhead Girls’), one last appeal to actress Natalie Portman (‘Natalie Portman, This Is Your Last Chance’), misguided artists that are more concerned about appearing like they have something to say, and the self deprecating ‘Total Commercial Failure’. As expected, Yidcore dishes up a couple of Jewish traditional numbers in full punk mode (‘Yam Shel D’maot’ and ‘Gesher Tsar Me Od’), but the highlights on the album appear when the band opt from a heavier sound on ‘A Song For Your Scenes’, ‘Moving Back In’, ‘The Road To Hell Is Paved With Good Conventions…’ and ‘You Ought To Come With A Health Warning’ (which also shows a ska influence throughout), and their brief foray into acoustic territory on the humorous ‘Commander Josh’s Barmitzvah Destruction Party’. Yidcore’s third outing isn’t all that consistently funny or all that groundbreaking from their previous releases, but it does seem to be far more thought out and grown up sounding. For Yidcore, that’s quite an achievement.