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Go: The Very Best of Moby

by Moby

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It's easy to dismiss the music of this cute, vegan, bare-pated relative of Herman Melville, especially if you don't actually listen to the music and focus instead on his ultra-PC interview style or the manner in which he sold dozens of songs to commercials and film soundtracks back in Y2K. But to do so is to knee-jerkedly miss out on some very fine and innovative music by one of the most influential musicians of the last decade. With the exception of two tracks (one of them the title tune), Go is a best-of from the years that Moby's been on the V2 label, from 1999's breakthrough hit Play onward. But Play--with its uncanny reworking of field recordings with playful beats and ambient textures--remains the artist's finest moment. A full disc of remixes and a smattering of unreleased songs (including a rad new number with Debbie Harry on guest vocals) make this an essential purchase for rabid fans. And, as a judicious selection of Play-era material is included alongside the finest songs from Moby's subsequent albums, 18 and Hotel, this is also the perfect entry point for the more casual fan. --Mike McGonigal