catchy, fun, ingenious, and never wears out on repeated listenings

This album is bland and dull... that is unless you're an advertising exec, in which case it's perfect. So I assume that was it's main motive-to attract their attention. Moby's politics and musical ability aside: to provide music for advertising wasteful, vain, destructive commodities (eg cars) is bad enough, but to profit from it... well, that's just shameful. May as well sell drugs.… Expand

Moby at his best!

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)

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.… Expand

Moby proves that he sux. and Eminem Rules!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

he epitomises the money-driven greed and hypocrisy of modern society. play is the most licenced body of work ever. with a record 900 synch licences to adverts all this, from work based on copyright-free blues recordings and artists whose relatives are very unlikely to be living in a fancy condo in the east village. he gets all the publishing. white folk stealing black music? i'm sick of celebrities happy to flog their integrity for cash. oh yes, and the musical part of whats he's added to his carnival of stolen voices?turgid lifeless production, with 'honey' the only bearable track.… Expand

It is from the rare single-author albums that gives so satisfaction. The good about it is that it isn't comfirmed to some kind of music neither to a particular style(except maybe for that charming piano), it is what I should call multi-stylish. You can hear several voises and many instruments. But, hey, this is music and what makes this awesome is the punk explosions at times, that perfectly graceful piano , the harmony and the rythm of Moby's music. This music is utterly unpredictable and suprising with its spirit. Beautiful, beautiful!!… Expand

Although someone could claim this cd would be worth buying enen just for some 4 or 5 great songs, it suprises for its depth and beauty and makes for an all around very good album. Moby, Coldplay and U2 are IMO, for their fantasy and contribution to the music, the best music artists at the moment.

This is probably Mobys best album. alot of really good tracks. Very good

Easily a 10. Probably Moby's best album to date.

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.… Expand

look at amber e. comments. BRAINWASHING! eminem is still ok but there is nothing wrong with moby. just because eminem cant handle any critism against him, and he at all times must write songs about himself. god forbid someone who actually has musical talent and releases a alternative album which some people cant get a grasp on. therefore these people make fun it because it's different. MOBY - PLAY is a must for anyone who sees the world differently and is an extremely beautiful album.… Expand

Okay. It works well as background music (as its use in various commercials has shown) but doesn't seem as interesting when listened to for its own sake.

catchy, soulfull, moving