A Map of the Floating City
by Thomas Dolby
Metascore
73

Generally favorable reviews - based on 8 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 8
  3. Negative: 0 out of 8
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  1. Q Magazine
    Dec 15, 2011
    60
    He's turned his back on electro flourishes in favour of a melodic approach... It works. [Dec. 2001 p. 126]
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  2. Uncut
    Nov 11, 2011
    60
    This vaguely "concept" album comeback mostly consists of polished jazz-pop and coffee-table Americana with faint echoes of Steely Dan, Tom Waits and Prefab Sprout. [Nov 2011, p.83]
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  3. AllMusic
    Oct 28, 2011
    50
    After such a lengthy time away, it's admirable that Dolby has returned with such a bold and difficult-to-pigeonhole record, but with its disappointingly flat production, A Map of the Floating City fails to make the most of its abundance of ideas.

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User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 1
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 1
  3. Negative: 0 out of 1
  1. PBTDoyle
    Dec 24, 2011
    10
    An album almost twenty years in the waiting! - but it appears worthwhile. Dolby's art is well-crafted, and his production and arrangement isAn album almost twenty years in the waiting! - but it appears worthwhile. Dolby's art is well-crafted, and his production and arrangement is sleek and balanced. Some songs stick out more than others (Oceanea, Evil Twin Brother and 17 Hills) but this is more about personal taste than quality. Map of the Floating City is a cornucopia of concept, mood and narrative woven from a tapestry-like blend of melody, chord sequence and line - both wistful and heartfelt. The album offers up new gems upon each listening and for this reason is a musician's album. Map of the Floating City's centrepiece is definitely Oceanea; Dolby's voice counterpoints beautifully with Eddi Reader's. if your choice of listening is for an album within which you can immerse yourself in completely - this album is for you… Full Review »