{^Hotel} rarely shows, in any shape or form, traceable inspiration from the {\new wave} and {\post-punk} era {$Moby} advertised as being in full effect. The first half contains simple modern {\rock} songs that tend to be anthemic and soul-searching in nature. Lead single {&"Beautiful"} is one exception, a tongue-in-cheek thing {$Moby} has imagined being sung by vacant celebrity couples. No matter how affable, vegan, liberal, bespectacled, or vertically challenged he is, the real irony is that a millionaire and former love interest of {$Natalie Portman} has made a song of this kind (see also: {$Aerosmith}'s {&"Eat the Rich"}). A very gentle version of {$New Order}'s {&"Temptation"} turns out to be the album's deepest connection to {\post-punk}; it's telling that {$Moby} opted to leave the vocals to {$Laura Dawn}, since he's less a singer than {$Bernard Sumner}. This begins the non-{\rock} portion of the program, which fans of {^Play} and {^18} might find easier to enjoy. A bonus disc containing an hour's worth of {\ambient techno} is good enough for separate release. ~ Andy Kellman, All Music Guide