The singer spent two-and-a-half years writing the album in Los Angeles, California, following the end of a long-term romantic relationship.

[8] Alex Young of Consequence of Sound said it is not a "prototypical sad song" as the accented piano instrumentation and the "booming" chorus add "a sense of hope" in the midst of the melancholic lyrics.

[11] MusicOMH writer John Murphy likened it to Li's previous singles "I Follow Rivers" and "Sadness Is a Blessing", labeling it a "future classic".

[13] A remixed version of "No Rest for the Wicked", featuring American rapper ASAP Rocky, premiered exclusively on Beats Music on 21 April 2014.

"[16] John Surico of Spin commented that "So as unlikely as the Swedish singer's recruitment of ASAP Rocky for a remix may look on paper, the team-up actually makes some solid sense.