By: Jesse Striewski
I still remember the moment I first heard Laura Jane Grace’s music well; it was the summer of 1999, and I was sitting in a hotel parking lot somewhere in southwest, FL when my friend and former band mate Joe popped a tape of Against Me!’s Vivida Vis in the tape deck of the beat up Oldsmobile we were in. Now, nearly 20 years later, I still get the same chills whenever I hear something new from Grace, whether it be with the previously-mentioned Against Me!, or a side project such as this one, dubbed the Devouring Mothers.
Bought to Rot isn’t too far off from what’s expected from Grace at this point, yet still doesn’t become too predictable, either. Tracks like “I Hate the Chicago,” “Apocalypse Now (and Later),” and “Reality Bites” are all cleaver in their own ways. But the main highlight is without a doubt “The Airplane Song;” although it may not offer the best title, it definitely stirs up the most emotions. Once again, Grace has done it again; at the very least, it’d be a shame for one to not give it a try.
Rating: 4/5 Stars