Comprised of former members of
Bad Religion and
Ill Repute, the unfortunately monikered
Jackass winds up being as absurd as it is effective on its country- and punk-fostered debut,
Plastic Jesus. Boasting two pop covers that are less novelty than they are knock 'em dead, frontman Toby Emery leads his co-conspirators through charming, stripped-down piss takes on
Madonna's "Music" and
the Backstreet Boys' "I Want It That Way."
Jackass' own tunes are just as fun, even if its members mock country music as much as they embrace it on engaging, contagious songs like "Fuck o' Dear" and "When You Go." Sure, a sense of humor is required to appreciate the disc, but anyone who checks the album cover -- where toy versions of the Devil and Jesus are depicted duking it out -- ought to know what he's in for. ~ John D. Luerssen