Nikki Sixx described in an interview the origins of the album, beginning with a jam session with guitarist Dave Darling of the band Boxing Gandhis: "One day we were sitting around; he had this hip-hop loop up, and I was playing this glamrock riff; and he goes, 'Wow, that's really fucked up.

"[1] He and Darling continued the casual approach—or what Sixx described as "complete reckless abandon"[2]—to making the album, for example flipping a coin to see who would play instruments on which track or who would write lyrics.

"[1] Sixx expected the casual approach might be part of the album's appeal: "If people like it, they can like it for the music, not because it's being shoved down their throats by a record company.

"[3] "Song to Slit Your Wrists By" was previously released by Sixx's other band, Mötley Crüe, as the Japanese bonus track for Generation Swine.

"[5] In contrast, Sonia Murray of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution wrote, "58 attempts too many styles and proves a master at none, and features Sixx's typically addlebrained lyrics.