Moby - Hotel

Hotel is not Play. Do not expect Play.

Actually, Hotel sounds more of the type of record They Might Be Giants would make had they not gotten so ironic. It's a sweet and beautiful expression of what Moby has become, and maybe more of what he's not. Not to say that Moby's new release is dripping with sentimentality. It aches with loss and regret, but not the kind of saccharine convictions one would expect from a man who saw it all, did it all and came away unfulfilled. The lyrics are simple even as the concepts behind them are complex. Using a gentle cadence more like nursery rhymes than rock songs, Moby conveys exactly what he wants to without unnecessary intrusion. In this respect, the music gets to breathe and wrap itself around your tender heart. That is, if you're not bitter. People who would hate Hotel probably hate themselves to some degree.

It's been much ballyhooed that Moby doesn't use any samples on this CD and given the raw emotional nature of the content, one has to wonder if he used samples in the past as a way of protecting himself. It's a wonderful progression of the Moby Sound complete with his soaring key strings and signature riffs evident on songs like "Raining Again" and "Spiders" and this time each song is infused with a daring vibe mixed with a slight trepidation. As if each song asks permission to enter our space. It's like peeking through the peephole of a dozen hotel rooms where different dramas are played out during an Emo convention.

The accompanying ambient disc is like a special treat in a Cracker Jack box. But unlike a cheap toy, it could have easily stood alone as a separate release. It's nice to see that Moby can still evoke a dreamy mood.

If this is the first indication that Moby has matured as an artist, then I can't wait to hear what he keeps growing into. Moby Hotel is worth checking into