Play

This album really was just ok. There’s some bangers, but you have to sit through the first half which is a real mixed bag. The second half is way better, even if it still has a few downsides. One of them is that the samples can get annoying at times, and the songs start to sound same-y, which really sucks because there’s some stuff this album has to offer. It’s ok.

Moby - Play This is one of my favorite albums from the 90s. Moby and Fatboy Slim were big in the late 90s with dueling electronica albums. I can put this on and find myself lost inside the music. 5/5

The master of vibes! Moby seriously knows how to craft an album.

Eh, okay

Absolutely excellent. Loved the whole vibe of the album.

Despite being into almost nothing aside from punk when this came out, I bought this album off the strength of a few of the singles. I didn’t love the whole album, but appreciated a lot of it. Having not listened to this in probably 20 years, we can consider this a fresh listen. I was nervous going in because the Fatboy Slim album the list previously gave me was so painfully repetitive. I was blown away by this album top to bottom though. It’s so well made and nothing repeats to the point of aggravation. This is masterful work. Probably the best compliment I can pay this album is that I’m voluntarily going to listen to the version that includes all the b-sides and adds an hour to the runtime.

Repetitive lyrics.

Thoughts before listening: This came out my senior year in high school and was a very big deal. Moby seemed like the future of music, and while EDM is still certainly popular, Moby has completely disappeared from popular culture. This style of music was never really my thing, but I do tend to enjoy it more as an adult than I did 25 years ago. Review: This is just okay. The best songs are the hits: "Porcelain", "Southside", and "Natural Blues". The rest of the album is either background music or blues samples with techno beats. It reminds me of the music playing in a Gap changing room or something. 2-stars.

extremely boring and repetitive, the essence of some good beats are in there but the same bits loop for most of each song. nothing fun or hard hitting

Good sound and variety

Exceeded expectations

The album is fine but I have a very different taste in EDM. The significance of bringing EDM to the masses is kind of lost on me.

Sweet music

Zzz

In the right mood/setting...

7/10 Loved the first song

I connected with some of the diverse tracks on this record. Definitely has a cultural contribution from the time this was released. Not a regular listen for me, but I appreciate the artist and the ground that they were breaking at the time.

IDC what anyone says, in the pantheon of electronic music, Moby is tasteful as hell. He's informed by house music, trip hop, ambient, krautrock, and on this album, infuses a lot of Library of Congress era blues samples. In these compositions I'd argue that he honors the integrity of the sample and gives them new life beautifully.

I have to give credit where credit is due, I remember the first time I heard this and how it made me feel. This was a special album in its day. Today, it probably sounds like bad Coldplay and could be criticized for that or whatever, but I still hold a certain fondness for it remembering those very good years. The song I discovered almost for the first time was 'Guitar Flute & String'. It's probably a track I skipped back in the day, but now interestingly found to be the best song on the album.

The first eight songs on Moby’s “Play” is one of the greatest streaks of bangers I can think of. Effortlessly weaving through electronica, rock, blues, ambient, hip hop, and more, it’s an amazing collection of hits. The first half of this album is an easy five stars. Then “Machete” slices in as the first and only dud. Moby recovers from there, and the rest of the 18 tracks are fine, even good. But nothing stands out the way those first eight did. I had actually restarted listening multiple times, loving the start on each occasion, but after finally getting past “Natural Blues” I was shocked at how much it dropped off. I had to go back to the beginning again to listen through new ears. Maybe I remembered the start of the album so fondly because of nostalgia? But upon further inspection, I really think it’s just that nothing on the back half holds up, and it drags down the whole. Those first eight were all hit singles for a reason. And if they were the whole album, I would be able to give this a half star higher.

And a half

When I listen to this album, I always enjoy it. The songs are super hooky. It’s easy to learn the lyrics and sing along. It’s strong for the first half and then tails off with Machete as the turning point. Moby purposefully sequenced the album that way to go from elated highs to the the washed out feeling of coming down from heroin. Seeing the explanation helps me understand the concept. The advantage is that I can just skip most of the second half of the album and be happy. The downside of the lyrical structure is that I don’t want to listen to the album very often. The lyrical structure and song sequencing are dichotomies that make the album exciting to listen to, but only maybe once a year.

Ubiquitous barely begins to describe this album as basically every track appeared in an advertisement or movie trailer of some description over the years. People hate this because of that overexposure, but it's a solid album, some tracks hit with a vengeance but it's the more chilled guitar instrumentals that resonate with me.

En vrai j’ai bien aimé, même si ça s’essouffle vers la fin, la première toune est un banger par contre

Great album, I have never actually heard the whole thing. I would definitely listen to this one again

Mostly sounded like hotel lobby music. The few tracks that had words were very repetitive. Would have enjoyed the album at about half the length. Good background music.

Interesting music, if not my particular cup of tea. 6/10

Electronic music, too repetitious for me. Good for dancing or background maybe.

it's ok

Look, some absolute classics here but this trails off. Never loved Moby beyond the singles.

Favorite Tracks: Honey Run On Natural Blues

2,7

Some of the songs are great. The rest is just background.

All reviews from anybody who didn't give this album a 5 should be hidden from the site since they clearly are not mentally capable.

It's okay, it didn't evoke anything out of me and Moby is kinda weird

Great album. I already knew all the most famous songs - Porcelain, Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad, Natural Blues - but this was my first time listening to everything in between. I enjoyed the new songs, especially Honey and Everloving. Most of the songs didn't draw me in, but none were unpleasant to listen to. This is a great chill album to have in the background with five/six great songs to make me pay attention.

Många riktigt sköna låtar. Många sisådär. Långt album, 1 timme. Svårbedömt. 3 eller 4. Fria eller fälla? Det är rätt skönt stämning genom hela. Jag friar.

Mycket bra men hade kunnat vara ett par-tre låtar kortare.

An important album for electronic music. This has a number of great tracks, but the second half of the album drags.

I recognized some of the songs from getting radio play, but aside from that, this album was just ok. Didn’t really connect with me.

Hey Moby you so fine, you so fine you blow my mind. Hey Moby!

Tons of nostalgia here. Great album of electronic music. I already knew five or so of the songs well and enjoyed the rest. It is packaged with the b sides on Spotify which is a bit much. But the original album will definitely be getting another listen in the future.

Cool add to my library

One of my faves

Nearly 600 albums in, this might be the least surprising inclusion on this list, based on the author’s other choices. That said, the last few tracks on this record, where it gets more ambient, are pretty good and completely out of character with the rest of the record.

I've heard a number of these songs..not my jam but familiar

Nice album. 84/100. Trip Hoppy in a cool way. Looking forward to hearing many of the tracks again.

Lo-fi but grand. Somehow had heard a lot of the album without directly listening to it. Best song is porcelain.

Used to play this album on repeat back in the day. Not every song is a 5 but enough are and I’m nostalgic so I’ll give it a 5

Two hours of what I suppose would be considered Electronic Dance Music, so a standard song structure (intro, verse, chorus, etc.) is nowhere to be seen. Lots of pleasant looping beats, though. I'm not the target audience, but for what it's worth, people like me may still find value in the album as background music. I listened while working, and I didn't find it distracting at all.

I actually didn't anticipate enjoying this album so much after not having listened to it in at least 20 years. About 8 of the tracks were immediately recognisable and absolute bops. The sampling work is incredible, especially considering how much effort would have gone into finding some of these records at the time before mp3 and the internet media. Nothing is worse for a song than to go unheard and yet here we have these songs finding a new audience. Beautiful.

Good stuff, would t necessarily search it out but would be happy to listen again.

Attempting the Led Zeppelin approach to song writing, but without the charisma, chops, or outright bombast. Now, for some reason, I feel the urge to buy a Toyota. And some Tampax.

fun and groovy, not super memorable but definitely danceable and i liked the variety. just some good populist dance music.

Some cool chill background music and some interesting blues takes. Would listen again.

almost turned it off on the first track. the rest were not too bad.

Moby would have passed me by had it not been for a mate giving back word on a Moby concert at Manchester Apollo and giving me his tickets. Moby was on tour promoting this album. I went not expecting much but the concert was fantastic so I bought this album straight after. Moby became big in the UK soon after and his music was all over the place on radio and countless TV adverts. This album and the next one 18 I had on my iPod and I remember a particular day walking in the Lake District having these albums on repeat. It was one of the most memorable days in the Lakes I have had (and I have had many) so always think of Moby when I recollect that day or when I occasionally touch the same route again. My fascination of Moby did not last long and after buying 18 I lost track of what he was doing and I don’t think I played this album again until prompted by this list. Listening again was pleasant enough and obviously brought back those memories but I do wonder what made me have the brief dalliance with Moby as dance music is not my thing. I do like ambient sounds which I believe Moby’s later work includes (will have to research that) and there are traces of ambient on this album along with some nice ochestration. This album belongs in my past and at that time was a favourite so my rating reflects that and is higher than if it was an album which was new to me today.

A few good tracks with a lot of filler. The blues vocal samples got repetitive, but then the droning vocals came in and I wanted the blues samples back.

Some good songs. Mostly background music.

Me encanta.

Better than some of the other electronic albums on here so far, but still kind of weird listening to electronic music while just sitting around. 2.5/5 Probably won’t listen again

fucking bad

Never listened to Moby. Don’t know a whole lot about him. But this album was kinda fire. No wonder why we have chill lofi beats to study to these days, off that Moby wave. Seriously the way he mixed distorted guitars and riffs with sampling and hiphop inspired beats was really well done, will listen again

DNF A couple of tracks are decent, the rest I listened to are meh.

I ended up liking this a lot more than I expected. I knew the song "South Side" so I thought the whole album would be like that but from the first song, I could tell that my hypothesis was wrong. The album kind of petered off at the end but I still think it was pretty good! Favorites were "South Side", "Honey", "Run On" (which contains an awesome sample) and "Porcelain"

I liked the songs Porcelain Natural Blues

This is music that was scientifically formulated to be included as background music in oceans eleven. Sorta like if Fatboy slim was dogshit

It was okay

4.0

What a weird artist for Eminem to have beef with.

I recall renting this album from the library sometime around middle school and just....not getting it. Looking back decades later that makes sense with my limited musical history at the time, but in the intervening years I've been changed -- exposed to so much. Play offers up two of my favorite musical elements -- sampling and electronic beats -- with unapologetic fervor, gripping you from start to finish, though there are some well-earned (and well-timed) respites along the way. Each cut moves along its journey in almost concurrent scientific and organic tracks. I'd admittedly let this one stew for a few weeks before listening to it, and it's been a good reminder to leave your past biases at the door because a few decades is an eternity in musical taste. Favorite tracks: Find My Baby, South Side, Natural Blues

I could maybe see the appeal 24 years ago? Some decent samples in there but the drums feel watered down and don’t carry enough weight on the majority of the tracks. Pretty underwhelming album.

If there is a feature that defines Moby´s music, it is forgettable.

Espectacular todas las canciones las has oído en algún sitio seguro, películas, anuncios, etc. Discazo

Заебись.

Music for adverts. There's something really uncanny-valley and inauthentic about Moby. Can't quite put my finger on why I feel like that. In fairness he did stumble on a popular formula but it is exactly that: formulaic.

Some songs didn't age well, others really good. Thanks for the journey to my teens :)

Dance, electro, pop, keys, beats, samples, so many singles and radio/musicTV airing, but non of it touched me once, still not really. Solid album though, aged ok, a little bit too long.

I would never personally listen to this but it had some fun moments. Honey was the standout to me, likely because I've heard it before.

so many bangers on this, very unique style with old samples mixed with kinda of slow beats

This album rocks

can't make music? sample those who can

I will forever prefer Johnny Cash‘s take on “Run On,” but overall some pretty entertaining tracks.

My favorite electronica album yet! The negatives outweighed the positives though. Soo much repetition in places. The last few tracks reminded me of getting a massage so that was nice. A 3.5 rounds down to a 3 on this one.

This album made an impression on me when it came out. It's not the type of talent I associate with much of the artists on this list, but that's not what electronic/dance music is about. I dig it. 3.6 stars

This would be another great candidate for 3.5*. I enjoyed it and it's got several strong tracks on it. No complaints, really. Good representative of the genre.

Nice beat. Catchy tunes

Not all songs work today, but the classics are still great pieces of downtempo music

Pretty nice mix of blues and electronic in the first half or so, but it loses it towards the end of the album. Nothing on this is bad, so still a 4, but its cohesion starts to fade as it goes on.

Nerd

In 1999, the album was nondescript music for bland people. Now it’s that, plus it hasn’t aged well…

These songs reminded me of the music you hear on a movie dvd menu. Often repeating one or two audio samples and very beat-forward.

Also das, was er macht, macht er schon sehr gut. Viele Samples zusammengemixt mit irgendwelcher total egalen Popmusik. Reingeskippt und Techno gehört. Ich bin raus!

I was surprised to find I enjoyed a lot of these tracks a lot. There were some instrumental and some electronic dance music. I would listen to more music by Moby. I give this 4 stars.

I feel like this record is not unlike the vegan food Moby loves; it’s a bunch of shit thrown together acting like it’s something it’s not with the individual parts being way better on their own. But honestly, I don’t hate this as much as I thought I would. Again, like vegan food.

Moby ‘Play’ An overlong mix of post modern blues and gospel, produced by a man who likes to wipe his dick on strangers at parties. 3/5

Found my attention wandering which can't be great. Prefer 18

Classic dance music. I like the beats, but I was never really type for one or two specific sampled vocal phrases repeated through most of the song. Favorite song: Everloving.

Lyrics: "Play" is often celebrated for its minimalist and repetitive lyrical content. Moby strategically employs short phrases and samples to create a hypnotic and mantra-like effect. The lyrics often revolve around themes of alienation, spirituality, and the human condition. The use of samples, largely sourced from old gospel and blues recordings, adds a layer of authenticity and historical resonance to the album. While some critics argue that the simplicity of the lyrics may lack depth, Moby's intention seems to be creating a visceral and emotional experience rather than relying on intricate wordplay. Pros: The simplicity of the lyrics enhances the album's accessibility and contributes to its emotional impact. The use of samples adds a unique and nostalgic dimension. Cons: Some may find the repetitive nature of the lyrics lacking in complexity, and those seeking more profound narrative depth might be left wanting. Music: "Play" is a masterclass in sonic diversity. Moby seamlessly blends electronic elements with traditional instruments, creating a rich and textured sound. The album covers an expansive musical spectrum, from the pulsating beats of "Porcelain" to the haunting melodies of "My Weakness." Moby's ability to traverse genres while maintaining a cohesive sonic identity is a testament to his skill as a producer and composer. Pros: The musical diversity keeps the album fresh and engaging throughout. Moby's incorporation of various genres showcases his versatility as a musician. Cons: Some may argue that the broad range of styles makes the album feel disjointed, lacking a clear thematic thread that ties the tracks together. Production: The production quality of "Play" is often cited as one of its strongest attributes. Moby's meticulous attention to detail is evident in the seamless integration of samples and electronic elements. The album's success lies in its ability to balance the raw, unpolished nature of the sampled vocals with the polished, modern sound of electronic production. Moby's innovative sampling techniques, where he lifts vocals from old blues and gospel recordings, contribute to the album's distinctive character. Pros: Impeccable production elevates the album, creating a cohesive and immersive listening experience. Moby's sampling techniques set "Play" apart from other electronic albums of its time. Cons: Some purists may argue that the heavy reliance on samples diminishes the originality of the work, as it leans heavily on existing recordings. Themes: "Play" explores themes of spirituality, existentialism, and the human experience. Moby draws on his personal struggles and emotions, infusing the album with a sense of introspection. The juxtaposition of electronic beats with soulful, often melancholic vocals creates a unique tension that adds depth to the thematic exploration. The album, at its core, seems to be a contemplative journey through the complexities of life. Pros: The thematic depth adds emotional resonance to the album, transforming it into a more profound listening experience. Cons: Some listeners may find the themes too abstract or obscure, desiring more explicit storytelling or thematic clarity. Influence: "Play" undeniably left an indelible mark on the music industry. Its success not only catapulted Moby into mainstream recognition but also played a crucial role in popularizing electronic music. The album's innovative use of sampling and its ability to bridge the gap between electronic and traditional genres influenced a generation of musicians. The widespread use of "Play" tracks in various media, including commercials and movies, further solidified its cultural impact. Pros: The album's influence on the electronic music scene and popular culture is undeniable, leaving a lasting legacy. Cons: The overwhelming success of "Play" may have overshadowed some of Moby's subsequent work, with listeners and critics often comparing his later releases to this groundbreaking album. Conclusion: "Play" by Moby stands as a monumental achievement in electronic music, showcasing the artist's ability to fuse diverse genres into a cohesive and emotionally resonant masterpiece. The album's impact on both the music industry and popular culture cannot be overstated. While some may critique its simplicity or argue about thematic cohesion, these elements contribute to the album's accessibility and enduring appeal. "Play" remains a timeless classic that continues to captivate listeners and inspire a new generation of musicians, securing its place in the pantheon of influential albums.

I liked many of the beats, however Moby is no lyrical genius. Most of the lyrics are highly repetitive.

liked it more than I thought I would

starts to drone in the last half but the first half really goes.

Some amazing songs, most filler though

This has scratched a particular itch in my brain. Easy to lie back and be taken on a journey. It’s like soulful ambient lounge music but more elevated. 3.5/5 ⭐️

Most of these songs were in commercials in the late 90s early 2000s.

Nice and varied. Some standout tracks but would need another listen to see if anything catches. Felt too long for what it is.

Track to sounded like Voodoo child. Already knew Porcelain. To be honest, incredibly impressed so far and can't believe I've not listened to this album before. Didn't overly enjoy south side... Really liked the feel of the final track, was a really nice end to the album. Overall a lot of very good tracks but a few that I found a bit boring.

You guys don’t get me.

7/10 Moby's masterful use of drum/piano combo is cool, it just felt repetitive

zanimljiv, cak sam neke stvari i znala od prije al me nije odusevio

fuuuuuuuck yeah brutalan album. Ima prejebene sampleove i cijeli vibe je super. 3 pjesme Porcelain, Why does my heart feel so bad i Natural blues

dobar

90s 🤘🏻

Kann man gut nebenbei hören das Album

This was a pretty solid, feel good, groovy, dance music album. Several tracks had excellent use of piano, vocals, and harmonies. The tribute to bluesy and soulful roots was also excellent. My only criticisms are that some songs were a bit boring, there was a lot of repition, and the album is a little too long.

Jako dobar album, par ozbiljnih hitova koji su mi bili u ušima, a nisam znao odakle su.

Dated in a way where some of it comes off as silly/goofy. Which isn't the worst way to age as music goes. Depending on the hour, I have alternating feelings about remixing recordings of spirituals as pop songs. In one way, it feels more honest. On the other, the recordings feel like they have been orphaned from their entire purpose.

Strong start but not so good of a finish.

Always a great listening experience.

Fantastic mix of musical styles and some great sampling going on here

The classic made for TV adverts album 😄 I really used to enjoy it but am suffering from over exposure now

Banger alert. Great album all the way through. He doesn't get enough credit

Ride all night, yeah we ride all day Some may come and some may stay

1990’s zeitgeist

I'm largely unsure as to why Moby is a respected artist and isn't selling used cars in Toledo. This album is just, bad. It's like he realized he had an album due at 11:59 and he hasn't even started yet.

Nice beat, but lack of lyric creativity. Can't understand most of what he says, but he keeps repeating the same line ad nauseum anyway, so who cares. Can't believe this one is in a top 1000 list; must be listed in the high 900s.

4.5 stars. Have always enjoyed this album. Simple yet engaging electronica. The slower vibe-ier downtempo tracks ("Porcelain", "South Side") are better than the fast paced ones ("Bodyrock", Machete") which sound a bit dated. Wish "Flower" made it onto the original cut, probably my favorite track and was released on B Sides nearly a decade later.

meh

Hard no

The songs don’t sound the same but they all use the same formula so it gets a bit repetitive

Feels like everyone knows most of these songs because half of them were on car adverts or TV shows over the years. Also a lot of the work isn't exactly his, or original, but it resulted in massive popularity, so I guess he's happy. I wouldn't willingly go back to listen to it now like I did when it was out and I was younger, but I'll give it a decent 3 because it's loads more listenable than some of the other electronica bollocks we've had.

Advert music, through and through, with a weird few bits of spoken word towards the end. It's perfectly fine as background music (and most of it is pretty familiar, I reckon I've heard most of it but never listened to it before beyond Porcelain and Natural Blues), but there's not a lot of depth. 2/5.

I remember buying this and listening to it on loop when it first came out. In fact, so many songs off this album were used in films, TV shows and adverts at the time: society was almost saturated with it!

Always why not

It's fine but it's a bit of a one trick pony, and having to hear that trick about 18 times is way too many. Cut it off at like 12 songs and it'd be a pretty fun listen, some of the samples are gorgeous, 'Porcelain' being the obvious one.

combination of several styles into a very listenable album. although not my typical preference in music, i recognized three songs that received radio airplay back in the day. quality stuff, albeit considering the genre, many of the songs became redundant. highlights: “south side”, “bodyrock”, “natural blues”.

Yeah, this was a jam.

No thanks

These guys are tons of fun. I had to look up what exactly this music is, and the Wikipedia blurb is great: "...according to Spin magazine's Will Hermes, Play was "the high-water mark for populist electronica" and a "millennial roots and blues masterwork",[7] while John Bush from AllMusic said it balanced Moby's early electronica sound with the emergent breakbeat style of techno." Electronica. Cool. Memorable songs: Honey, Find My Baby, Bodyrock,

I did not expect to like this album but I REALLY did! I loved the very strong beats and bass as well as the repetition -- I liked listening for new things in the music through each repetition of a bass line or melodic phrase.

I don’t have a lot to talk about for this one, mainly because there’s not much to talk about. It’s kind of just empty. It’s just an audio loop, typically of some sort of revivalist preacher or old folk song with a light techno beat on top of it. Occasionally Moby will come in to do his best, if underwhelming, impression of Leonard Coen. He’s always talking about the weather though. lol No, this isn’t close to the best on this list, but it’s fantastic background noise. All music has a purpose one way or another. 4.5/10 Best Track: Southside

I respect this, but it feels like background music. Interesting and kind of a cool vibe.

Listened to this as a kid, still impressive. Wide array of sound and ideas from moshable to funeral worthy songs. Say what you want about the person that is Moby; this album is a buffet of interesting ideas and good songs.

Surprisingly, not bad. I was never a big fan of Moby but I sort of liked quite a few of the songs. It's great background music when you're involved with another task, but then you start bobbing your head or tapping your fingers.

great album, brings a low mood up. early innovator of techno. early moby comes together here in a catchy way. though a bit repetitive, it somehow stops itself from ever being boring.

brings back memories of the 90's

Pretty sweet album.

Roughly the same way I feel about Fatboy Slim... this is probably as good as this type of music will ever get for me. I get it, it's just not for me.

Listened to half of it and enjoyed it but it did feel repetitive

This got me feeling pretty good, surprisingly. Best song was, 'Why does my heart feel so bad'.

Genre: Pop/ Electric Instruments: 3/5 Modern Translation: 4/5 Dance Potential: 2/5 Listening Location: At my desk + commute to work. Favourite Song: Honey + Find My Baby + Porcelain Made me feel: I loved this diverse album. The start of the album made me bop my head and it got slower/more instrumental as it progressed. This is the only album that I revisited because I wanted to after listening to it for this list and am surprised it’s 24 years old (1999).

Some of this is quite beautiful but sometimes I completely forgot it was even on. 😂

Very good

amazimg. solid beginnin to end

Super solid album.

Tolles abwechslungsreiches Album mit vielen Highlights. Pfiffige Rocksongs und tolle Synthy Sequenzen. Meine Favoriten sind “Naturaral Blues”, “Why did my ..” und “Porcelain”. Auch die weiteren Songs anreihen sich schlüssig und abwechslungsreich in die Songreihen ein. Tolles Album .. zum wiederholen geeignet. 😊. Ein wahrer hidden Star.

Decent background music, would work well in a large store or something. Stand-out: Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad?

Music for people who think they were losers in high school but were actually bullies.

Added a couple of songs to my downbeat playlist from here and I’ve always loved “Flowers” since I heard it in gone in 60 seconds.

Best song is the catchy tune Green Sally up…

Top shit

Great record. 9/10

Unfortunately, if you were paying attention to music when "Play" came out, it's been overplayed. There are good songs, and there are songs that sound like Enya with harder drums. I wasn't into electronica back then, and there's maybe a handful of songs out of that style that I would willingly listen to.

Son 5ème album. Electronic music. Un des albums électroniques qui a le plus vendu au monde. Solide découverte! Plusieurs grosses chansons de films/séries malgré beaucuoup de chansons bin correctes. Un 4 pour la découverte.

And Moby? You can get stomped by Obie You thirty six year old bald headed You don't know me, you're too old, let go, it's over Nobody listens to techno

Very innovative music, solid sounds and soothing rhythms, later songs were nice instrumentals

I understand both sides of the love it and hate it. I think it’s a fringe 3 or 4 star. It’s one that has airport type vibes. I don’t think the classification of it being electronic is fully true however I do here some influence on certain electronic/EDM artists like ILLENIUM, Kygo, and Blasterjaxx (those 3 are way more electronic). It’s also a LoFi type music to it (It’s not music I would listen to while studying). Another possible artists who he could have influenced maybe is JVKE (shoutout to Gen Z, he’s an okay artist great piano). The only complaint is the repetition of words like the lyrics were good but it was just repeat,repeat,repeat for a couple songs. Would I listen to him again on my own without someone offering me anything? Yes, yes I would because he has a calm yet tech-no style. All in all a rather interesting listen.

Ok I was not expecting to like this at all since it's electronic but I absolutely loved this album, it'll probably be my go-to study music if I want something without too many lyrics. It isn't the harsh almost dubstep-type electronic I was expecting and I really like that. Really, really nice actually knew a couple of the songs he sampled from which made those more enjoyable. I do wish this site would stop giving double albums though since they are obnoxious and nobody wants to sit down and listen to 29 songs.

Really enjoyed this-the instrumental tracks were my favorite. Everloving is a great one-the simple melody then blended & mixed with other instruments and harmonies-fantastic

Don't know what to expect with this one, I know like one Moby song and then jokes on Community and HIMYM Listening in two parts, first on the way home from the office in Novi. Was not ready for the first song, pretty weird but not too out there. Ok, so it's kinda bluesy? But with a beat. Songs repeat a lot, harder to engage with after Bob Dylan yesterday. Feels very 1999 but not necessarily in a bad way. All of these songs sound like they belong on a soundtrack and I guess they all got licensed out for shows and movies and such. Instrumentation is very good, arrangements are very nice. Second half doing dishes at night Run On is one of the strangest covers I've heard in a bit. I kinda love it but my version would be so different. Things are getting a bit less dynamic, I feel like this album isn't the strongest being played front to back. Everloving is solid though. Came on right when I was feeling not so great about the second half. Ok, so I'm not the best at giving low scores. I am much better at seeing good stuff and overlooking bad stuff. Against an average album this is pretty good. And I see why it's so influential. I think the album itself is not that strong as a whole (no idea of it was meant to be) I'm gonna go 2/5 just because I'm feeling it and I don't know how many scores I'll give out below a 3. Positives: there are a lot! Some great individual tracks, and even more interesting ideas. It sounds really good, and there's a great mix of a huge variety of sounds to enjoy. Very fun to listen to and keeps you guessing. Negatives: I still can't shake that most songs sound like they were written for a movie or game soundtrack. A lot of meandering tracks, and not enough connective tissue between the variety of ideas. Pretty front loaded as well. May go back to a few of the tracks, but I can't see myself putting it on front to back anytime soon. Doesn't help that I just listened to Massive Attack and Bob Dylan and those left such a strong impression. I still think it deserves a place on this list, but against some of the best albums of all time it doesn't hit me the same way.

Moby, you're too old, let go, it's over, nobody listens to techno.

Interesting, but not my kind of music.

Classic

Second half is best find the blues samples pretty naff, all dated

Some jams but it's all just all a bit twatty, isn't it?

3/1001 Not overly familiar with Moby going in aside from "South Side" which happens to be on the album. So I was expecting a more electronic overall sound, but was surprised by a variety of bluesy songs. I didn't always take notice of the instrumental tracks, but made sure to tag "Inside" as a future playlist piece. A comfortable listen, that really went well with the rainy day outside. Favorite track: "South Side" 4.5/5

One of my favourite house records

I don't understand the hate of this album. If I'm just judging this album on how much I enjoyed listening to it (which is my usual guage) then it was great! Favorite songs: Porcelain, South Side, Natural Blues

Interesting album. Never heard of Moby before (except Moby Dick of course). A mix of electronica and alt rock, this album is easy listening and is mostly instrumental background music. However, "Find My Baby," Porcelain," and "South Side" are reminiscent. Per Wikipedia, "South Side" was one of Moby's greatest commercial successes. This single received air time, has Gwen Stefani accompaniment, and won an MTV music award back in 2001.

I never paid too much mind to Moby and I have to say I'm pleasantly surprised with the overall experience. Not my favorite artist but I see the appeal; even if the "just a curator" criticism was true, it takes some talent and ear to curate an performance that is cohesive and entertaining. The upside: - Fun dance/party music, a couple of bangers and a pleasant enough experience overall. - The highs are quite high and the album finishes stronger than it starts. The downside: - The less inspired tracks are better suited as backing music whilst you do something else other than music you want to sit and listen to. - It'd be great as a 40 minutes album.

Classic

This album is quality, songs like flower and porcelain changed my life.

Enjoyed

More hits than I remembered.

NOT GOOD

Love run on. Really fun album

Melodic & rhythmic

Honestly just a solid album overall, despite what Eminem would have people think

Enjoyed it and grew on me over time

I like this for it's ambient and melodic mood, but it does get a bit repetitive Moby made some pretty good music, and this record stands out the most! But the interludes could be skipped. Standouts: Honey, Porcelain, Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad?, Bodyrock, Natural Blues, Machete, If Things Were Perfect, Everloving, The Sky Is Broken, 7 out of 10

pretty good tbh

Very good listen, didn't realise how many songs were his

This was a go to CD when i just wanted to put something on to chill to. It all came back to me as I listened to it for the first time in probably 20 years. Always loved Natural Blues and Porcelain. I am not a huge fan of electronica but i genuinely like his approach to it. It was nice to be "reunited" with his record and I think it will be in my rotation again! (This time the Play plus B sides edition.)

Not my thing and the songs drag on way too long.

Very repetitive, wich I understand is done purposly, but still makes me not want to listen to the album

meh, not bad bad at all but sorta just passed me by

Iconic album. Safe to say I've heard most of these tracks before. A lot of it is a bit outside of what I would normally listen too, but still not a bad album by any stretch. Honey is still my favorite track. Definitely follow the concept of the album getting less and less defined as the track-list progresses Intro to Everloving made me think my headphones had broken suddenly lol

Good for the genre I guess, not my style at all

Great hits, but know them only by listening to the radio or from bars. Nothing personally.

No matter how many times I tried today to stay focused on the music, inevitably this album receded into the background. Beyond the first few tracks, which I liked okay, all I can say is it's fine but not memorable.

Honey - 7.8 - great sampling. good dance music Find My Baby - 5.5 - the "wooh" feels off-beat and doesn't lend to dance. second half is better. Porcelain - 9.2 - amazing lyrics and sampling. feels very floaty. Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad? - 6.5 - hate the "doors" parts, but the rest is great. South Side - 6.0 - basic lyrics - spoken word parts sound good, if a little disjointed. gets better throughout Rushing - 6.8 - doesn't accomplish being dance music - it's like a lo-fi song. Bodyrock - 4.7 - usually good at making it not seem repetitive. not here. ugh Natural Blues - 7.2- good, but this is where moby's algorithm with making music is apparent to me. Machete -7.8 - vocals too quiet in beginning. really picks up at the end, sounds tortured. 7 - 3.5 - sounds terrible. thank god its only a minute. Run On - 8.2 - great sample. Down Slow - 6.7 - sounds fine. a bit boring. If Things Were Perfect - 8.9 - awesome lyrics. Everloving - 8.0 - like the guitar. melancholy. Inside - 7.0 - too slow for me. end feels like a conclusion, but there's still three more songs. Guitar Flute & String - 6.4 - lives up to the name. The Sky Is Broken -6.8 - don't like the echo on vocals. I wish he would do something interesting flow-wise once. lyrics are great. My Weakness - 7.7 - great conclusion. like the strings.

First half was good. The other 14-15 songs were pointless

Nice, but not my style.

He was a bit of a joke, Moby, in the late 90s and early 00s. I can't really remember why now, because this album is pretty good! The two big singles are absolutely brilliant, and the emotion of Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad is still a real sensation. It's a great example of how a song can absolutely transport you to a time and a place in your life. Overall the album just starts to drag a little, and is probably skewed slightly too much to the upbeat dance songs for me, rather than the emotional sucker punch that Moby is capable of, but still a very enjoyable listen.

First time listening to Moby. While I’m not too fond of dance and electronica I think some of the tracks on here are great for background tasks. My favourite is Rushing.

Cool

Fun

It is simply not my taste!

Idk

Very good album. No bad tracks on this one.

Super Album, welches ich schon seit langer Zeit in meiner Sammlung habe.

I was impressed from one end to the other. I never really gave Moby much of a chance, but this was a great electronic album. The way he sampled and produced, on top of this potentially being written to be his final album, gave the album a lot of weight and engagement throughout the listen. Great sunny day album

Love this

Moby was everywhere when this hit in the year 2000. Car adverts, in the charts, on the radio, on TV. I preferred the Fatboy Slim take on this trend of blending old gospel songs with techno, but there's no dispute that something here was commercially viable. That's probably my main problem with this album, it's a bit soulless. It was interesting to hear the tracks that I somehow managed to avoid back in the day. I would have rated this as a 1 star when it came out, but time has been kinder than I expected and I will bump it up to 3.

A lot of these didn't even seem like actual songs, just some beats or dance music repeated many times. It didn't sound awful or anything, but I'm just confused as to what this was even supposed to be

Good

This has more of a roots/bluesy foundation than I was expecting based on Moby’s radio tracks. I was surprised to like it a bit. Some of the songs are underdeveloped IMO. They’re more “riff” than “song”, but I feel that way about most electronic music. 3.5

Pretty good. Feels like 2000 in places, but this album is probably the reason why. Alan Lomax samples, but it's the beats that sound dated in 2023. B-side is more soundtrack-y. 3.7

porcelain is a 5/5 star’s track the rest of the album brings it down

Boring and repetitive. Got through 3 songs and just had to give up. You can literally skip to anywhere in any song and you will be at the same point

Thought about a 4 but not quite. 3.5

Some nostalgia points, and some great tracks but a lot of below average too. But when it is good, it is really good.

Stunning work of art.

2000s

Already knew this one for some time. Moby is just such a vibe and I'm not at all surprised he's in this list. It's great trippy experimentative music and it's just so distinct and original. He'll always have place in my heart. Keep on bringing great music like this! 9/10

YEEES, banger after banger! Totally biased but love this album. I listened to Moby, Massive Attack and Beatles on a very long train ride to Slovakia a few years back and it really left a lingering feeling after, it's hard to describe but it felt just right. Now I'm being thrown right back into that time and I feel like returning to the Spišská Nová Ves thrift store. Great music, especially for dreamily looking out the window

İts been a while since I've waited for an album to finish. Just boring and moody.

Good Album! They where lesser interesting Songs for me but when it hitted it really hits. Crazy that i was familiar with 3 songs but didnt knew that it was from moby. Also nice that porcellain was used in rockys ASAP Forever.

5.4/10

Yeah it’s ok. Like this is sometimes how it goes for important songs in the history of EDM, you can tell it was forward thinking but it sounds a little dated. Go by Moby, not on this album is fireeee tho

Great atmosphere

While some songs could have lasted for 10 seconds and nothing would be missed, others are quite fun and feature nice samples. Album full of ups and downs

Nice album

Amazing vibe with a few very good highlights

Has some really cool parts but also has a few too many boring tracks to really appreciate it as an album.

Man, this didn’t age well. The samples are over played. Just way too many times. Porcelain was a staple of my youth and is a wonderful song, but I still have so much fatigue from hearing it EVERYWHERE.

Interesting music. Not my typical genre but I enjoyed listening to it!

This is exactly the type of electronica that I love. Would listen any time

101223 10:53 3.5

What is there to say about Play that hasn’t been said before? One of the most important and influential albums of all time. Honey is an all time classic opener and the quality never relents. With the song Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad? You can clearly hear where a group like Chase & Status would derive their sound from. I could talk about this album all day, but just listen to it and enjoy it for what it is. Perfect.

Really fantastic album. The blues sampling was a unique touch. Porcelain instantly brought me back to the movie "The Beach" with DiCaprio. The entire album carries a pensive, ethereal sound that is sure to put the listener in a thoughtful mood. I read somewhere that many of these songs were used in commercials, and I could immediately hear that. I had never heard of Moby before this, so I'm really pleased to have discovered this piece of music.

great

Previously, my positive opinion of Moby was pretty much solely based on Spiders, Lift Me Up, Raining Again and Natural Blues. Another review called this aural wallpaper which is a perfect description. It's inoffensive, unobtrusive, and wildly repetitive.. Credit to Moby for helping to evolve the electronica genre, but this album is just a part of the fossil record now. I think Hotel is a better album for me.

Moby introduced EDM to so many Middle aged dudes. This album is actually super great but waivers a bit at the end

An inconsistent, but enjoyable album with several songs that I really liked. Not quite great, but solidly above average.

Maybe normally I wouldn’t care for this one but it makes me a bit nostalgic, since these songs would play on the radio all the time when I as a kid. [0082/1001]

This got off to a rough start. After the first few songs, I figured I was in for a lackluster ride. But once it reached Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad?, it become way more consistent, and actually felt like something interesting was being attempted. The way vocal samples are used on this record is really cool. It features a lot of old vintage sounding vocal performances, but some also sound more modern, which makes me think they were recorded live for the album. I enjoy the more upbeat and danceable tracks. The problem is that about two thirds of the way into the album, all of that danceability goes away. It takes a more mellow and ambient approach. And it feels very flat. I don’t really like any of those songs. They just feel like generic ambient trip hop. If this wasn’t as long as it is, and didn’t feel so bloated, I might have liked it more. Rating: 6/10

It's a fun listen, a dance album that you don't need to dance to enjoy. My only real gripe is that the best songs are the ones with samples. So who am I really rating then? He did pick some great samples and work them very well, so cleary a talent. I like the more ambient songs in the 2nd half of the album as well, he's no Eno but very good.

Never gave Moby much ear time before. Of course there was incidental radio listening, but never paid much attention. I quite liked this record with few exceptions. Danceable but also good to just have on driving or washing dishes.

I listened to this album in a lot of cars that year. Peak 90s era techno (at least in America). Not a huge fan of the chill songs at the end, still a good record.

This is a very good album that I find my attention drifting just slightly towards the end. Maybe just a touch too long. But I still like it.

Some good songs, but you really have to be in the mood for techno, even slow techno.

Entertaining ambience

Robocop is a zombie hero movie disguised as a cyborg Jesus parable, and so on Play the dead rescue Moby and help him master giant wow crescendoes. Could do with a quarter hour amputated, but still bangs. I don't think anyone has ever done this trick quite as well as Moby.

Here's a test of your pre-millennial tolerance, Mark! I played the whole thing through on a plane ride, B-sides included, and conclude that a) Moby understands his quality control pretty well and b) the Lomax/archive samples are doing a lot of the heavy lifting here. Packed with catchy bangers, of course, some of which I love to this day (Natural Blues and Run On, especially). Bit of an unsavory character in this period, by all accounts, and the album itself goes on longer than it should, but gotta give credit where it's due. Now excuse me, I've got the sudden urge to purchase an ugly French van..

8.5/10 Highlights: Natural Blues Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad Run On Honey Find My Baby Porcelain

Moby's "Play," released in 1999, is an electronic music landmark that seamlessly blends ambient, techno, and samples of old blues and gospel recordings. Tracks like "Porcelain" and "Natural Blues" are standout examples of its innovative approach. However, the ubiquity of the album's tracks in commercials and media has somewhat diminished their impact over time. While "Play" showcases Moby's skillful production, its widespread commercial use might make it feel less groundbreaking to some listeners. It remains a solid representation of electronic music's crossover into popular culture, deserving a middle-ground 3/5 for its creative fusion and cultural impact.

Midby

This is a tough one. I hate moby as a person - Hes just the worst. Maybe not as awful a human as kanye, but you wouldnt want to spend 5 minutes in an elevator with him. BUT this is a great album, absolutely outstanding. I guess I'll take a star off for how awful he is, but the album is still worth a high rating. 4/5

Was more music than singing in the songs

Either this does it for you or it doesn't: there doesn't seem to be any in-between. It does it for me. I like the sampling; both vocally and musically. I listened to this a lot during a very good time of my life. This is a keeper.

This album is a classic from my youth, it starts at such heights it is quite disappointing how long it drags and how little did Moby decided to leave out. Porcelain is of course the jewel of the crown, being it such a perfect track, but this could have been easily a 5, even with the stuffing, were not for the huge disappoint that is hearing the album version of “South side” as the feat. Stefani one is greatly superior. It is a let down that stays for the rest of the album so there goes a Star. Another one taken for staking Natalie. Not ok bro.

The album cover didn’t prepare me for how chill this was (something something books and their covers). Loved the samples and the overall vibe Favorite song: Run On Least favorite: Inside

Some notes: South Side: nostalgia hits as hard as I thought it would (loved this song as a kid for some reason) Bodyrock: not loving the ~hip hop~ Natural Blues: loving this one (could absolutely see this being a Flume sample lol) Overall liked it more than I thought I would

Wanna dance

So torn as I really did love this album when it came out and even saw Moby a few times when he toured it. But he is a Morrissey level jerk and a pretty creep. Ok, so separating the artist from the art. While brilliant Play does sound dated, probably because songs from it got used pretty much everywhere in '99-02. I also years on still found the lack of real recognition to Vera Hall and Bessie Jones a minus

No comment, simply the best !

Masterpiece. One of those albums you can listen from start to finish and love every song.

The album was a lot better than the songs that were played on the radio

Interesting album for sure. Didn’t know much about Moby prior so wasn’t sure what to expect and I feel like I’ve heard quite a few of these songs before in commercials. Lots of randoms samples and what not overall pretty cool 3/5

This is my jam. Had never heard any Moby songs before. This is great.

2/3 of this album is great. Fades a little toward the end. It’s a little long. If he had cut it down to 12 or 13 tracks this would be a 5 star record.

Deserves to be on the list but man oh man has this aged poorly. A surprisingly boring album punctuated by a couple brilliant songs.

high potential for 5 stars until i kinda lost interest at the end lol but great album

One of my old time faves but haven’t listened to it in ages. I was ready to rate it a 5 even before listening but thought it would be fair to give it the same treatment as all the rest. 5 after the first listen. Then I went back and listened twice more in the last day and the results have been validated. Creative, inventive, cool as a polar bear’s toenails. So good.

Very funky, and makes me want to jump out and dance, too bad I'm listening to this at my workplace

Enjoyable background music with a few bangers 4/5.

Pretty good. Feels like 2000 in places, but this album is probably the reason why. Alan Lomax samples, but it's the beats that sound dated in 2023. B-side is more soundtrack-y. 3.7

More premise than payoff. These are pleasant on the surface and the layerings and contrasts (club beats, gospel vocals) present some interest. But on subsequent listens they soften to the point of blandness and offer no depth or resolution other than their own shine, which seems a pretty generic sort of attraction. The hits were the hits and one remembers the moment, but it all feels quite generic now and its coming and going so inoffensively and non-compellingly makes perfect sense.

Heard it before?: No Enjoy it?: no, didn’t care for it Favourite song: Track 3 - Porcelain

Good bluesy electronica

Moby was so big back in the day, I normally associate him with songs like Porcelain, Bodyrock, Extreme Ways, etc. I was surprised to find that most of the songs I associate with him are actually on Play. Listening to this I realise I have such a gap in my knowledge of electronic music, I see this tagged as downtempo or Trip Hop and I don't think these match, but my knowledge is not all up to date on this to judge. All in all, this was a pretty good album, not great, easily forgettable and it was really top heavy, the back half was lacking. But I really enjoyed my listen through and remembering some of these old songs I have heard frequently on the radio. Standouts: Find My Baby, Porcelain, Bodyrock, Natural Blues

Really enjoyed the different paces within

God. I adored this album for so long. I still love it, it's a place in time but also incredibly like going home. I love it still.

I was obsessed with this album in 99! I feel Iike I know it backwards. There are some absolute bangers on this album. I know there is controversy around his sampling (and not paying) which is pretty shit, but he made some great tunes with them!! Did a bit of reading about Moby over the weekend, he sounds like an absolute twat! lol

This is such a great album and brings back so many good memories! It also makes me want to rewatch The Beach. This podcast is worth a listen, its about Moby not returning CDs to a friend he sampled some of the songs from. - https://gimletmedia.com/shows/heavyweight/brholm Fave track: Honey

Opzich wel chill, maar het is gewoon niet echt mijn ding. Ik zou dit niet zelf voor m'n plezier gaan luisteren, hoogstens als achtergrondgeluid op werk, maar dan kan ik ook wel betere dingen verzinnen.

Oddly comforting but I could not shake the feeling that It may lead me to shooting up a school at some point

p847. 1999. 4 stars. Immediately accessible sampling album, and the background music to a million adverts. Point deducted for loss of freshness, but that's what you get for licensing your music to anyone who thinks it would be cool as the soundtrack for their car or perfume ad.

Better than I’d thought, but very electronic

Goed album

Moby dick xDDD

Electronic. Not my style

So chill. Keeping this one in my library.

not necessarily anything that’s going to completely change your life, but it’s accessible and peacefully sleepy in its final stretch. i wasn’t paying attention to what many of the monologues said but they have a very soothing tone.

Porcelain

Definitely a pleasant surprise. Starts off with club bangers, which all really pop with their production, and then slowd down in the back half, with gorgeous ambient instead. Simply a really strong album.

This starts off with a bang. First few tracks are fantastic but then it falls off. Good enough to be rounded up to 4 as I’d definitely go back to listen to those again.

Long and meandering.

I love getting albums that were apparently super popular that I've never even heard one song from once because they're usually pretty good and mostly interesting. I'm still a little high so I'm not sure how biased I was but this music was great for the mindset I was in at the time and also felt like really solid electronica that was a different take on the repetitive daft punk/fatboy slim type stuff that was contemporary at the time. I liked inside, south side, and honey the most but the whole album was solid throughout with few to no duds. Edit: It was still a good album the next day and it was especially nice walking through the park as the sun set.