This loosely connected songs on
Eugene Chadbourne's
Jesse Helms busted With Pornography make up a self-described "C&W opera." There is no plot to speak of, rather than just a theme of comically obvious corruption and obscene political commentary. The sound is vintage
Chadbourne: an astute mix of avant-garde bluegrass, country, and wry protest music. Though the disc was recorded with a wide variety of musicians -- including the Violent Femmes'
Brian Ritchie, former
Frank Zappa drummer
Jimmy Carl Black, members of
Camper Van Beethoven, and many others -- the recording manages to hold together thanks to
Chadbourne's skills as a bandleader. Mostly, the common thread that seems to bind is the artist's undeniable manic energy as he baits Jesse Helms, the conservative senator from
Chadbourne's home state of North Carolina. Helms makes a good arch enemy and gives the music a pranksterish force missing from most protest music written since the 1960s. ~ Jesse Jarnow