Moby – Play: #789 of best 1,000 albums ever!

Why is Moby’s Play on my best 1,000 albums ever list?

It’s the ambient techno stuff, the delicate downtempo stuff, the use of strings and subtle vocals with electronic backbeats.

What does Moby’s Play mean to me? What does it make me feel? Why is it exciting or compelling?

I’m not fully tuned into where Moby sits with respect to the popular culture these days. It kind of seems like he’s out of favor, generally (maybe?). I know that Eminem disses him on a track of some (read = many) years back now, though I’m not sure how that factors in, honestly.

Which is all a ramble-y preamble to state that I was able to approach Play with fresh ears and an open mind when revisiting it during the research process for this here best 1,000 albums ever project. And it turns out that it’s really strong overall, with a few really high highlights.

I’m not much of a fan of Moby’s blues and gospel-y stuff meshed with electronica, as on “Honey” and “Find My Baby.” It’s the ambient techno stuff, the delicate downtempo stuff, the use of strings and subtle vocals with electronic backbeats, its lush yet precise production, that make Play a special album.

“Porcelain,” the breakout hit on Play, represents this Moby mode the best. The pretty, simple, melancholy piano line is simply great. And Moby’s quiet, almost hesitant vocals make it a really unique, beautiful song.

“Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad?” has similar qualities, but is slightly more upbeat and EDM, and its chorus is striking and emotional.

“Bodyrock” is a more aggressive techno song, but not overly aggressive, especially when compared to the likes of The Chemical Brothers. It’s smooth and groovy versus edgy and harsh. I don’t think it’s at all an indictment to say that it’s an upbeat dance tune that you can throw on for your kids, and the parents would generally enjoy it as well.