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A Map of the Floating City
by
A Map of the Floating City Image
Metascore
73

Generally favorable reviews - based on 8 Critic Reviews What's this?

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  • Summary: The concept album made up of three EPs about three imaginary continents is the first since the singer's 1992 album Astronauts & Heretics.
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 8
  3. Negative: 0 out of 8
  1. The A.V. Club
    Oct 28, 2011
    83
    Dolby takes care to construct whole worlds, making sure there are people to talk to there, and scenery to drink in.
  2. Drowned In Sound
    Nov 4, 2011
    80
    For all its stylistic diversity--bluegrass, bossa, jazz and electro all get a look in--and voracious internationalism, Floating City is a work with an identifiable centre.
  3. PopMatters
    Oct 28, 2011
    80
    In the end Dolby emerges as one of those rare artists who's managed to grow with the times while retaining his artistic vision, who has taken a prolonged hiatus and yet sounds like he never left.
  4. Mojo
    Dec 22, 2011
    80
    This album is a punchy, lyrical and moving set. [Nov 2011, p. 103]
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  5. 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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  6. 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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  7. 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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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… Expand