Thoughts on Moby?
I remember that many years ago—around 2005—everyone unanimously agreed that Moby was a genius, basically because of the album Play, but then he sort of lost his momentum... I think. Do you think his albums are worth listening to? What do you think of him?
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Edit: I didn't say *Play* was from 2005; I said that following the success of the *Play* album (from 1999), he was something considered a genius between 2000 and 2005—or thereabouts. I remember songs like "We Are All Made of Stars" or "Lift Me Up" playing constantly on the radio.
Listening to random songs from different eras—and if you search through that ocean of material, you'll likely find something good—I was struck by how hollow the songs sounded and how poorly they’ve aged. My worst suspicions were confirmed when I checked and saw that he produced all his own albums. I didn't think he was a good singer, either; I think it would have been better if he’d formed a duo or a group and let someone else handle the vocals and production. Well, the vocals are forgivable, but the production isn't.
*Play* might be the exception where the songwriting transcends the production—and "Porcelain" could be a masterpiece—but it’s a bit overrated in the sense that not every song is a 10/10. (The B-side "Flowers," for what it's worth, is actually quite good.)
I think many of their old albums from the 2000s aren't well-produced and are in urgent need of remastering.
I have no idea about the hate directed at him personally—though he does have a somewhat creepy vibe—but I don't know anything about the man himself.
Surprisingly, things improve after 2010 or 2013; basically, the recording systems get better, and the guy actually lets himself sing. I mean, compared to how albums like 18 or Hotel sounded—heavily focused on the hit single, with the guy refusing to move away from the microphone.
He should grow a Michael Stipe-style beard.