Bought to Rot cover

Released 8 years ago this November

Bought to Rot

Laura Jane Grace & The Devouring Mothers · 2018

38 min · 14 tracks

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Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

65 /100
Treeline
Higher than 54% of albums we've rated

The album combines energetic punk elements with personal lyrics, though its cohesion suffers from uneven pacing.

What we noticed

  • The album opens with a driving punk rhythm in 'China Beach' and maintains a high energy level through the first half.
  • Several tracks feature abrupt tempo changes, such as 'Reality Bites' which shifts from a mid-tempo groove to a faster pace.
  • The lyrics often reflect personal and political themes, with songs like 'I Hate Chicago' using sharp imagery and humor.
  • The final track, 'The Apology Song', features a stripped-down arrangement that contrasts with the more energetic earlier songs.
Composition 25% of the score
7/10

the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics

Craft 20% of the score
6/10

production, performance, arrangement

Durability 25% of the score
6/10

whether it rewards returning to it

Distinctiveness 18% of the score
7/10

whether it sounds like itself

Sequencing 12% of the score
5/10

running order, pacing, length

Influence 2/10

Little footprint beyond its audience. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

  • 1 China Beach 2:05
  • 2 Born in Black 3:11
  • 3 The Airplane Song 2:30
  • 4 Apocalypse Now (& Later) 2:15
  • 5 Reality Bites 2:11
  • 6 Amsterdam Hotel Room 2:08
  • 7 The Friendship Song 3:04
  • 8 I Hate Chicago 3:04
  • 9 Screamy Dreamy 2:06
  • 10 Manic Depression 3:49
  • 11 The Acid Test Song 3:07
  • 12 The Hotel Song 2:49
  • 13 Valeria Golino 3:15
  • 14 The Apology Song 2:55

What to play next

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Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata