The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! š
bet27's review against another edition
3.0
My 3 stars is barely 3, because while I appreciated the creative struggles, backstories to songs, and honesty about life, I could've happily done without all the details of his sexual exploits, which seemed to take up 1/3 of the book and distract from the better story. I don't normally read memoirs of musicians, so this is probably tame in comparison, but it all seemed to needless and pointless and wallowy and could've been easily summed up to depict that in a few choice words here and there. Ignoring those bits, this is a solid 3 for me, possibly even higher.
starness's review against another edition
5.0
5 stars!!!!!
This deserves all the high praises, incredibly well written memoir. I devoured every word. I knew about Moby through his music but nothing else about him really. The mood he captures around the emerging electronic and rave music scene in the early 90's, about his beloved New York..feels like I'm walking it with him, the grimy underworld of nightclubs is so vividly described here. Moby is a unique guy that defies the stereotypes in the music industry, his devotion to veganism, (mostly) sober living, animal rights and welfare is admirable, especially as he is surrounded by such a drug addled culture. He really keeps true to himself. I love Moby's self deprecating wit not afraid to lay bare his many foibles and neurosis. It goes to show that most creative types are usually riddled with insecurities and doubts which usually further enhances ones creativity, some of the passages are quite sad, the immense poverty, the loneliness the lack of hygiene made me squirm and I thought I had it tough!
As much as I loved this book it falls short as in it didn't explore enough of his later more recent successes of him actually making it big in the music world, I thought he could have explored the later stuff further and maybe have condensed some earlier recollections to fit it all in, hopefully this could mean a further publication and I for one would be first in line to read more from this incredibly talented musician and now talented writer. Oh how I enjoyed your narcissistic time travel Moby! Please sir I want some more
This deserves all the high praises, incredibly well written memoir. I devoured every word. I knew about Moby through his music but nothing else about him really. The mood he captures around the emerging electronic and rave music scene in the early 90's, about his beloved New York..feels like I'm walking it with him, the grimy underworld of nightclubs is so vividly described here. Moby is a unique guy that defies the stereotypes in the music industry, his devotion to veganism, (mostly) sober living, animal rights and welfare is admirable, especially as he is surrounded by such a drug addled culture. He really keeps true to himself. I love Moby's self deprecating wit not afraid to lay bare his many foibles and neurosis. It goes to show that most creative types are usually riddled with insecurities and doubts which usually further enhances ones creativity, some of the passages are quite sad, the immense poverty, the loneliness the lack of hygiene made me squirm and I thought I had it tough!
As much as I loved this book it falls short as in it didn't explore enough of his later more recent successes of him actually making it big in the music world, I thought he could have explored the later stuff further and maybe have condensed some earlier recollections to fit it all in, hopefully this could mean a further publication and I for one would be first in line to read more from this incredibly talented musician and now talented writer. Oh how I enjoyed your narcissistic time travel Moby! Please sir I want some more
blevins's review against another edition
2.0
I'm torn on this audio book. There are things about it I liked--detailed descriptions of electronic music, particularly the rave/techno era and parts of NYC in a bygone, less-developed era--but there was so much of this I couldn't stand--the horrible recreation of dialogue and conversations Moby had with people and the oversharing of the drunken indulgences Moby had when he took up the booze. Moby comes off as a bit of a slime bag with all the mentions of strippers he is attracted to. Moby was a more interesting person when he wasn't pursuing the cliche debauchery via booze and sex...that got unbelievably tedious. And yeah, I get it Moby, you are a vegan and being a vegan is a big part of your existence and it has been for a long, long time. The reader wasn't allowed a page of rest I don't think without you mentioning some vegan thing you ate...or that you had to remind us you were a vegan. Believe me, we didn't forget in the four paragraph break before you mentioned it again. jeez. It's almost as if you were a pulp writer in the 1950s and instead of being paid by the word, you were paid by the mentions of vegan in your manuscript.
A few weeks ago I listened to Sebastian Bach from Skid Row read about his life and I have never listened to that band. I've listened to Moby a lot even though I was never into the rave/techno culture or soundtrack. I actually really like Moby's new album, but after reading both these memoirs, I'd rather go have dinner and talk to Bach than Moby. And that's saying something because Moby could talk to me about one of my musical heroes--Daniel Miller from Mute Records/The Normal/Silicon Teens/producer of Depeche Mode records from 1981-1986. Even with that topic, I'd rather hear stories from Bach...I doubt he'd say vegan over and over all night long for one thing.
A few weeks ago I listened to Sebastian Bach from Skid Row read about his life and I have never listened to that band. I've listened to Moby a lot even though I was never into the rave/techno culture or soundtrack. I actually really like Moby's new album, but after reading both these memoirs, I'd rather go have dinner and talk to Bach than Moby. And that's saying something because Moby could talk to me about one of my musical heroes--Daniel Miller from Mute Records/The Normal/Silicon Teens/producer of Depeche Mode records from 1981-1986. Even with that topic, I'd rather hear stories from Bach...I doubt he'd say vegan over and over all night long for one thing.
bodger's review against another edition
5.0
A fantastic read, Moby takes you to the time and places that brought him to compiling the Play album. A few of the anecdotes stop rather abruptly, but the main points are picked again later on.
I only wish the book carried on. The stratospheric rise to fame seems possible but unlikely at the end of the book, but we all know how it turned out. I'd love to read that story too.
I only wish the book carried on. The stratospheric rise to fame seems possible but unlikely at the end of the book, but we all know how it turned out. I'd love to read that story too.
snowedinwithmykindle's review against another edition
4.0
I really loved this book. Iāve been reading a lot of ārock memoirsā lately and this is probably the first one I would recommend to people. Typically after learning a musicians story I begin to lose respect for them. They glorify excessive drug use and use women like party favors. Moby did none of those things. Ok, well maybe he did slightly but it was in a relatable way. Yes, he hooked up with strippers and joined the mike high club. Yes, he got f*#%ed up and puked all over himself and partied like a rockstar but yet I didnāt look down on him for it. I felt like he was someone I could see myself partying with in my younger days.
Moby started off with nothing. He lived in situations that seem unfathomable to most and survived on willpower, naivety and oranges. He enjoyed a small amount of success and then it seemed that he his career had sizzled out. He accepted his fate of being a has-been and decided to release one more album of songs he didnāt think anyone would like (but moved him). That album would become the start of my Moby obsession and perhaps his leap into mainstream music. Also where the book leaves off so I would love a follow up!
I especially loved the parts where we get glimpses into the intertwined lives of (now) celebrities. Who knew he grew up with Harry Connick Jr. and Chloe Sevingny? Moby ran with the same rough, NYC club kids as Micheal Aliq (who I find fascinating) and attended the same clubs as Madonna. I got a good chuckle when he described being star struck by David Bowie and Trent Reznor.
He touches on veganism, Christianity, struggles with being poor, panic attacks, sobriety, alcoholism and being self conscious of his receding hair line. Overall, this is a great read and one of the best memoirs Iāve read in awhile.
Moby started off with nothing. He lived in situations that seem unfathomable to most and survived on willpower, naivety and oranges. He enjoyed a small amount of success and then it seemed that he his career had sizzled out. He accepted his fate of being a has-been and decided to release one more album of songs he didnāt think anyone would like (but moved him). That album would become the start of my Moby obsession and perhaps his leap into mainstream music. Also where the book leaves off so I would love a follow up!
I especially loved the parts where we get glimpses into the intertwined lives of (now) celebrities. Who knew he grew up with Harry Connick Jr. and Chloe Sevingny? Moby ran with the same rough, NYC club kids as Micheal Aliq (who I find fascinating) and attended the same clubs as Madonna. I got a good chuckle when he described being star struck by David Bowie and Trent Reznor.
He touches on veganism, Christianity, struggles with being poor, panic attacks, sobriety, alcoholism and being self conscious of his receding hair line. Overall, this is a great read and one of the best memoirs Iāve read in awhile.
aoldale's review against another edition
4.0
I listened to this in my car. I am really enjoying listening to memoirs read by their authors. Moby was funnier than I thought he would be!
yaboigingerino's review against another edition
4.0
Moby has grown to be one of my favourite artists of recent time - Play and 18 are two of my favourite albums I've heard.
Play was the album that launched him into superstardom, but this memoir (there is a second one, which I am looking to read as soon as I can) ends precisely in the middle of making Play - covering his life and come-up before that. I am more a fan of his later work, but it was still interesting to see how his life had become what it was - from eight years sober to being drunk almost every night.
From what I've heard, it only got worse for him. I'm interested to see what happens.
With that being said, the book itself isn't magnificent or anything - it's a tale of his life and the events that had happened to him from 1989 to 1999. The later parts got a little too vile for me - I just found myself to be a little disappointed in his actions and behaviour at times.
However, it's still a good read, and I can't wait to dive into the second memoir.
Play was the album that launched him into superstardom, but this memoir (there is a second one, which I am looking to read as soon as I can) ends precisely in the middle of making Play - covering his life and come-up before that. I am more a fan of his later work, but it was still interesting to see how his life had become what it was - from eight years sober to being drunk almost every night.
From what I've heard, it only got worse for him. I'm interested to see what happens.
With that being said, the book itself isn't magnificent or anything - it's a tale of his life and the events that had happened to him from 1989 to 1999. The later parts got a little too vile for me - I just found myself to be a little disappointed in his actions and behaviour at times.
However, it's still a good read, and I can't wait to dive into the second memoir.
tonydecember's review against another edition
4.0
"She had been so smart, so creative, so funny, and had ended up with a life that had disappointed herā¦she had disappointed herself. Her shyness prevented her from showing her remarkable paintings to anyone. So she ended up inā¦a place she hated, but a place that was sad and familiar."
"She'd bitterly blamed herself for not creating the life that she'd longed for. That was the tragedy: that she had let her fear and caution keep her from having the life that she'd wanted. (The cancer grew) but deep down I knew that her frustration and sadness had killed her."
ā Moby
"She'd bitterly blamed herself for not creating the life that she'd longed for. That was the tragedy: that she had let her fear and caution keep her from having the life that she'd wanted. (The cancer grew) but deep down I knew that her frustration and sadness had killed her."
ā Moby
laplaine's review against another edition
2.0
I couldn't help feeling that much of the details in this book weren't authentic and had been added to fill in the narrative. Maybe that's too critical, yet it was the reoccurring thought I had throughout. While I appreciate learning about Moby's adventures, and the chronology holds true, it's hard to believe this level of detail could be captured with such authority, recollection, and conviction. Likely won't bother reading the sequel, "Then It Fell Apart".
ashleymontulli1970's review against another edition
5.0
Last night I gave this memoir 4 stars because I was too programmed for a harbinger to understand that Moby was not going to take me where I was expecting. And then this morning, I realized, that is the essence of the memoir.
Moby dropped me into his world during the decade of 1989-1999, while he was living in a violent, drug-fueled and filthy New York City. He then spit me out on the curb exhausted, frustrated, sad, anxious and ultimately, hopeful. I lived inside his head for that decade and sped alongside his haphazard musical journey to the bass line of unyielding veganism and a quest for meaningful love.
Moby does not flinch with his account of creating music, sobriety, falling off the wagon, sex, poverty, failure and wanting to be understood. It is a journey that left me desperately wanting to find relief with his ultimate stardom, but instead really made me understand him more for not giving it.
Moby dropped me into his world during the decade of 1989-1999, while he was living in a violent, drug-fueled and filthy New York City. He then spit me out on the curb exhausted, frustrated, sad, anxious and ultimately, hopeful. I lived inside his head for that decade and sped alongside his haphazard musical journey to the bass line of unyielding veganism and a quest for meaningful love.
Moby does not flinch with his account of creating music, sobriety, falling off the wagon, sex, poverty, failure and wanting to be understood. It is a journey that left me desperately wanting to find relief with his ultimate stardom, but instead really made me understand him more for not giving it.