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Zero 7
Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed albums.
Play
Universal acclaim
Based on 20 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 25 votes
Read user comments
Rate this album >
Album Info
Label: V2 / Mute
Release Date: 01 June 1999
Discs: 1 disc
Genre(s): Electronic, Alternative
Summary
Although techno artist Moby had been on the scene for almost a decade and had released five albums, his fame had chiefly been limited to his club hit "Go" back in 1991. 'Play' changed all that, however, garnering a sea of critical and popular acclaim for the artist. A mix of styles (including deviations into blues and gospel), 'Play' also has the unique distinction of having all 18 of its tracks licensed for use in film, television and advertising.
Also By This Artist: 18 Hotel Last Night Wait For Me
Also On Metacritic
MUSIC: Voodoo Child: Baby Monkey
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
Village Voice (Consumer Guide)
But though the blues and gospel and more gospel testify not just for song but for body and spirit, they wouldn't shout anywhere near as loud and clear without the mastermind's ministrations--his grooves, his pacing, his textures, his harmonies, sometimes his tunes...
Read Full Review >Entertainment Weekly
What could've been a condescending gimmick yields some of the year's most haunting, and haunted, music.
Read Full Review >E! Online
Unlike so many other cut-and-paste experiments, this actually sounds like music and not a clever science project.
Read Full Review >CDNow
Although it may appear frantic, Play is an eclectic and coherent work where Moby accesses an array of sounds from his milieu of influences.
Read Full Review >All Music Guide
Moby shows himself back in the groove after a long hiatus, balancing his sublime early sound with the breakbeat techno evolution of the '90s.
Read Full Review >Austin Chronicle
Much of Play sounds like it was beamed directly from planet Sad Guy, but it's far and away Moby's most cohesive and affecting work to date.
Read Full Review >MTV.com
It's a well-thought-out, catchy, and complex body-rocker of a record from beginning to end, with only one or two minor missteps.
Read Full Review >New Musical Express
In ploughing a unique furrow in pop music, he demands your enjoyment as much as your respect.
Read Full Review >Q Magazine
Play's inventiveness will restore his reputation as a puck-like, maverick talent.
Read Full Review >Splendid
This time out, Moby manages to establish himself not only as a talented multi-instrumentalist and genre-jumper, but as someone who can write interesting songs in a variety of genres -- a point he's missed in the past.
Read Full Review >Launch.com
At the risk of once again alienating fans--as well as purists who may consider this treading on sacred ground--Moby has taken another set of disparate influences and "translated" them into a futuristic language that's all his own.
Read Full Review >Salon.com
On his cunningly crafted CD, the restless techno composer cleverly constructs a bridge between electronic dance music and the black Southern styles that form the basis of most American rock and pop.
Read Full Review >Rolling Stone
The ebb and flow of eighteen concise, contrasting cuts writes a story about Moby's beautifully conflicted interior world while giving the outside planet beats and tunes on which to groove.
Read Full Review >Village Voice
A perfect blend of sacred and secular--exactly what Moby's been looking for all along.
Read Full Review >Nude As The News
Unfortunately, the last third of the CD isn’t nearly as good as the first two-thirds.
Read Full Review >Sonicnet
Play is a modest, charming little record built on a few simple ideas, and a winner on its own low-key terms: Moby has made the first electronic blues album.
Read Full Review >What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this album is 7.9 (out of 10) based on 25 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
A N gave it an8:
A strong CD, with some of the most unique, catchy songs I've ever heard. Still, even with all of the acclaim it's gotten, I doubt anyone would have complained if a couple of the ambient tracks had been replaced with some more of the clever gospel/techno seen at the start (which also contributes to the album's front-loaded issue). Still, the majority of the tracks are strong, as is much of the ambient, and it turns out to be a shining example of experimentation gone right.
Alex K gave it an8:
Any review that uses the word "advertising" to sum up this album (excluding this one, obviously) should be disregarded. To judge an album purely on a populist basis is unfair. While Moby brought his music to a much wider audience by licensing it to ad execs, much smaller bands and artists are doing the same using MySpace. Same intention, but simply different means and different scale, and Moby shouldn't be criticised for it. This is a seminal album, one that properly transcended genres and one which - rough edges and all - managed to prove that anyone with a sampler and a keyboard can't blame their equipment for making poor music.
C. S. gave it a10:
Undoubtedly Moby's best album. I still wonder how he hasn't managed to be as good on the follow-ups "18" and "Hotel" (18 is just a bit weaker than Play in my opinion; Hotel is worse)
T F gave it a10:
Easily a 10. Probably Moby's best album to date.
Wendy gave it a9:
Moby at his best!
Mike gave it an8:
This is probably Mobys best album. alot of really good tracks. Very good
tanya h gave it a9:
catchy, soulfull, moving
