Bought to Rot
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Bought to Rot
| type = Studio
| artist = Laura Jane Grace & The Devouring Mothers
| cover = The Devouring Mothers - Bought to Rot 2018 artwork.jpg
| alt =
| released = November 9, 2018
| recorded = May–June 2018
| studio = Rancho Recordo
| genre = Punk rock,{{cite web|url=https://www.popmatters.com/laura-jane-grace-bought-rot-2620554048.html?rebelltitem=3#rebelltitem3|title=Laura Jane Grace & The Devouring Mothers' 'Bought to Rot' Proves Empowerment Is Eventually Obtainable|date=19 November 2018|accessdate=14 December 2018|publisher=PopMatters}} indie rock, heartland rock
| length = 38:21
| label = Bloodshot; Red Scare Industries (reissue)
| producer = Laura Jane Grace, Marc Hudson
| misc = {{Extra chronology
| artist = Laura Jane Grace
| type = studio
| prev_title = Heart Burns
| prev_year = 2008
| title = Bought to Rot
| year = 2018
| next_title = Stay Alive
| next_year = 2020 }}
}}
{{Music ratings
| MC = 75/100{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/bought-to-rot/laura-jane-grace-the-devouring-mothers/critic-reviews|title=Critic Reviews for Bought to Rot - Metacritic|accessdate=14 December 2018|publisher=Metacritic}}
| rev1 = AllMusic{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/bought-to-rot-mw0003209552|title=Bought to Rot - Laura Jane Grace & the Devouring Mothers|accessdate=14 December 2018|publisher=AllMusic}}
| rev1score = {{Rating|4|5}}
| rev2 = The Line of Best Fit{{cite web|url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/reviews/albums/laura-jane-grace-bought-to-rot|title=Laura Jane Grace & the Devouring Mothers - Bought to Rot|accessdate=14 December 2018|publisher=The Line of Best Fit}}
| rev2score = 8/10
| rev3 = Exclaim!{{cite web|url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/laura_jane_grace_and_the_devouring_mothers-bought_to_rot|title=Laura Jane Grace & the Devouring Mothers Bought to Rot|accessdate=15 December 2018|publisher=Exclaim!}}
| rev3score = 8/10
| rev4 = The Guardian{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/nov/09/laura-jane-grace-and-the-devouring-mothers-bought-to-rot-review-nihilism-and-tenderness|title=Laura Jane Grace and the Devouring Mothers: Bought to Rot review – nihilism and tenderness|accessdate=15 December 2018|work=The Guardian|date=9 November 2018}}
| rev4score = {{Rating|4|5}}
| rev5 = Paste{{cite web|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2018/11/laura-jane-grace-the-devouring-mothers-bought-to-r.html|title=Laura Jane Grace & the Devouring Mothers: Bought To Rot Review|date=9 November 2018|accessdate=15 December 2018|publisher=Paste<|archive-date=15 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215224124/https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2018/11/laura-jane-grace-the-devouring-mothers-bought-to-r.html|url-status=dead}}
| rev5score = 7.5/10
| rev6 = Under the Radar{{cite web|url=http://www.undertheradarmag.com/reviews/laura_jane_grace_the_devouring_mothers_bought_to_rot|title=Laura Jane Grace & the Devouring Mothers: Bought To Rot (Bloodshot) Review|accessdate=15 December 2018|publisher=Under the Radar<}}
| rev6score = 5/10
| rev7 = NME{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/album/laura-jane-grace-devouring-mothers-brought-to-rot|title=Laura Jane Grace & the Devouring Mothers - 'Bought To Rot'|date=5 November 2018|accessdate=15 December 2018|publisher=NME<}}
| rev7score = {{Rating|3|5}}
}}
Bought to Rot is the debut studio album by American rock band Laura Jane Grace and the Devouring Mothers. The group consists of Laura Jane Grace (lead singer of Against Me!), Atom Willard (drummer of Against Me!) and Marc Hudson (long-time sound engineer and collaborator with Against Me!). The album was released on November 9, 2018, on Bloodshot Records, a Chicago label that Grace approached when she discovered the label's headquarters was a few blocks from her residence.{{cite web|url=https://www.bloodshotrecords.com/album/bought-rot|title=Bought to Rot|date=23 August 2018|publisher=|access-date=29 August 2018|archive-date=29 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180829212107/https://www.bloodshotrecords.com/album/bought-rot|url-status=dead}} In 2022, Red Scare Industries "took over" the album from Bloodshot and began selling a new LP version{{Cite tweet |author=Red Scare Industries |author-link=Red Scare Industries | user= RedScare | number= 1585648325260443655 |title= Want copy of @LauraJaneGrace's "Bought To Rot" on red wax?! Earlier this year we "took over" this title from a defunct label, and we're here to make sure you listen to it. She's got upcoming shows and doing wicked stuff on Patreon, so get with it and be sure to check out this LP!}} with alternate artwork with by Grace.{{Cite tweet |author=Laura Jane Grace |author-link=Laura Jane Grace | user= LauraJaneGrace | number= 1585666969205968896 |title= Congratulations to anyone who bought the original pressing of this record. For the Red Scare version I changed the cover art just enough it should add some value to your investment on discogs}}
The album's title refers to the difficulty of Grace having written the album's songs, but feeling that they were not suitable for an Against Me! record, which was expected to be the album Grace would release in 2018.{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/LauraJaneGrace/status/1034681891293675520|title=Laura Jane Grace on Twitter|publisher=}}
Background and recording
{{Blockquote |I went in and asked if they’d consider giving the songs a home. They were cool enough to hear me out and oblige. I couldn’t be more happy about the work we’re going to do together and sharing it with the world. |source=Grace, on partnering with Bloodshot}}
Laura Jane Grace announced in July 2018 that the band she had performed previous solo tours with since 2016,{{cite web|url=https://dailyslicemag.com/2016/02/24/live-review-laura-jane-grace-and-the-devouring-mothers-at-the-sinclair-in-boston/|title=Live Review: Laura Jane Grace and the Devouring Mothers at the Sinclair in Boston|date=24 February 2016|publisher=|access-date=29 August 2018|archive-date=31 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180731213354/https://dailyslicemag.com/2016/02/24/live-review-laura-jane-grace-and-the-devouring-mothers-at-the-sinclair-in-boston/|url-status=dead}} The Devouring Mothers, had recently completed Grace's second solo record together, to be released on Bloodshot Records in Autumn 2018. The band's members since its inception have been Grace and Willard from Against Me!, as well as long-time producer and collaborator Marc Hudson.{{cite web|url=https://www.spin.com/2018/07/laura-jane-grace-devouring-mothers-announce-tour-dates-new-album/|title=Against Me!'s Laura Jane Grace Announces Solo Album With Devouring Mothers|date=31 July 2018|publisher=}} The album is said to be heavily influenced by the works of Rowland S. Howard{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/LauraJaneGrace/status/1024358221656535040|title=Laura Jane Grace on Twitter|website=Twitter}} and Tom Petty,{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/LauraJaneGrace/status/1024357709234294785|title=Laura Jane Grace on Twitter|publisher=}} and includes collaborations with other artists.{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/LauraJaneGrace/status/1024350141006991360|title=Laura Jane Grace on Twitter|publisher=}}
Following a period of turbulence in Against Me!, the songs were recorded quickly in order to have them finalised before Grace underwent surgery shortly after the record's release, so as not to have the songs "rot" like surplus groceries bought.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/laura-jane-grace-on-new-band-devouring-mothers-and-the-future-of-against-me-714581|title=Laura Jane Grace on New Band Devouring Mothers and the Future of Against Me!|first=Jonathan|last=Bernstein|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=29 August 2018|publisher=}} Grace later confirmed in January 2019 that she had undergone facial feminization surgery as part of her transition.{{cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/BsJOlOuH6-8/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/instagram/laurajanegrace/1948152444892458940 |archive-date=2021-12-25 |url-access=registration|title=Laura Jane Grace on Instagram: "A month ago I had FFS. Now I have a mesh screen of titanium permanently screwed into my forehead. Being trans is a trip y'all, a wild, wild…"|website=Instagram|accessdate=6 January 2019}}{{cbignore}}
The album was announced for preorder on 29 August, with an immediate release of "Apocalypse Now (& Later)" (the fourth track on the album) on streaming services.{{cite web|url=https://fanlink.to/LJGDMBOUGHT2ROT|title=Laura Jane Grace & the Devouring Mothers 'Bought to Rot'|work=OUT NOW! |publisher=}} On 11 October, "The Airplane Song" began streaming online,{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJ0__vF3bUk|title=Laura Jane Grace & the Devouring Mothers "The Airplane Song" (Audio)|last=BSHQ|date=11 October 2018 |publisher=|accessdate=6 January 2019|via=YouTube}} followed by "Reality Bites" on 25 October.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWSqJutaeE8|title=Laura Jane Grace & the Devouring Mothers "Reality Bites" [Audio]|last=BSHQ|date=25 October 2018 |publisher=|accessdate=6 January 2019|via=YouTube}}
Before being cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Against Me! covered the song "Reality Bites" as a full band in two live shows in March 2020.{{cite web|url=https://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/laura-jane-grace-and-the-devouring-mothers-13c87155.html?song=Reality+Bites|title = Reality Bites by Laura Jane Grace & the Devouring Mothers song statistics | setlist.fm|website = setlist.fm}}
Track listing
{{track listing
| total_length = 38:21
| all_writing = Laura Jane Grace except where noted
| title1 = China Beach
| length1 = 2:04
| title2 = Born in Black
| length2 = 3:10
| title3 = The Airplane Song
| length3 = 2:30
| title4 = Apocalypse Now (& Later)
| length4 = 2:15
| title5 = Reality Bites
| length5 = 2:11
| writer5 = Grace, Sabrina Ellis{{cite web|url=http://repertoire.bmi.com/Error.aspx|title=BMI - Repertoire Search|website=repertoire.bmi.com|accessdate=6 January 2019|archive-date=14 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190714235719/http://repertoire.bmi.com/Error.aspx|url-status=dead}}
| title6 = Amsterdam Hotel Room
| length6 = 2:07
| title7 = The Friendship Song
| length7 = 3:04
| title8 = I Hate Chicago
| length8 = 3:03
| title9 = Screamy Dreamy
| length9 = 2:05
| title10 = Manic Depression
| length10 = 3:48
| title11 = The Acid Test Song
| length11 = 3:06
| title12 = The Hotel Song
| length12 = 2:49
| title13 = Valeria Golino
| length13 = 3:15
| title14 = The Apology Song
| length14 = 2:54}}
Personnel
=Band=
- Laura Jane Grace – guitar, vocals
- Marc Hudson – bass guitar, organ
- Atom Willard – drums, percussion
=Additional musicians=
- James Bowman – guitar (track 4)
=Production and design=
- Laura Jane Grace – producer
- Marc Hudson – producer, mix engineer, recording engineer, photography
- Atom Willard – producer
- Stephen Marcussen – mastering
- Stewart Whitmore – mastering
- Steak Mtn. – artwork concept and layout{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/LauraJaneGrace/status/1034673844534091776|title=Laura Jane Grace on Twitter|publisher=}}
- Bryce Mata – photography{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/LauraJaneGrace/status/1034693771705966592|title=Laura Jane Grace on Twitter|publisher=}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Laura Jane Grace}}
{{Against Me!}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Laura Jane Grace albums