I thought Bought to Rot—the debut album from Laura Jane Grace and the Devouring Mothers—was supposed to be twangier than Grace’s well-known work with punk giants Against Me! Maybe it was her new business relationship with alt-country cornerstone Bloodshot Records that made me think that. Or the fact that she has said Bought to Rot was inspired by the death of Tom Petty. Or maybe it’s the new band name. Whatever the case, Bought to Rot sounds approximately the same as Grace always has: jet engine guitars, vicious rhythms, neck veins bulging, earworm melodies sung on a razor’s edge. There’s a little more of a sketchbook feel here, but for the most part, it’s Laura Jane Grace doing what she does best, which is being one of the best punk songwriters alive.

by Ben Salmon