What is the best track on 'Map of the floating city'?

[H Y P N o T R I P]

What's your favourite? -lets see what is the most popular - only one track each. For me, the atmosphere, the incredible chord sequences and changes, the Woolley theremin, the breathey vocal samples, that latin american rhythm, the retro feel and the grand twist followed by the Sax solo means in could only be :

Simone

[scarymonster]

Since the awesome performance at Holmfirth on Friday, although the song wasn't played, I've had 'Evil Twin Brother' on repeat play all weekend.

The Michael Jackson sound-a-like vocal is possibly the most convincing I've heard and it does strike me as a possible single in the hands of the right remixer...Calvin Harris perhaps, who I'm sure could also help bring the dynamic vitality slightly lacking in the cd version of Spice Train, but which was so evident during the encore at Friday's concert.

I think this may be T's most accomplished album - even 'Toadlickers' which I confess to skipping as an ep track last year, makes more sense in the context of the whole album.

Off to listen to that TD/MJ duet again...

[98/1000]

For me, Oceanea.

Eddi Reader's vocal is gorgeous, the musical arrangements and melody is spine-tingling, and I just love the ethos of the song, about coming home ... we can all identify with that.

[roundglasses]

Nothing new under the sun. it is just so cool.

[Wendywoo]

They are all very good, but my favourite is Spice train.

[Micistm]

God that's tough, and I have faves on certain days that change.

But song for song, I still love 17 Hills the most.

[white city]

I think this may be T's most accomplished album - even 'Toadlickers' which I confess to skipping as an ep track last year, makes more sense in the context of the whole album.

Off to listen to that TD/MJ duet again...

That is so true. I remember distinctly when I first heard Toadlickers wondering how the f*ck is that going to fit on the same disk as the beautiful and ethereal Oceanea??? Somehow it all works.

Listening to the album as a complete entity is easy and works very comfortably. I wasn't expecting it to work out quite THAT well.

Jon

[98/1000]

That is so true. I remember distinctly when I first heard Toadlickers wondering how the f*ck is that going to fit on the same disk as the beautiful and ethereal Oceanea??? Somehow it all works.

Thomas Dolby is all the music you ever need!

[Vox Humana]

Oceanea, hands down. AMOTFC is his best album since Golden Age, but that track just does it for me. Might even be my favorite Dolby song ever.

[Micistm]

I think this may be T's most accomplished album - even 'Toadlickers' which I confess to skipping as an ep track last year, makes more sense in the context of the whole album.

Off to listen to that TD/MJ duet again...

That is so true. I remember distinctly when I first heard Toadlickers wondering how the f*ck is that going to fit on the same disk as the beautiful and ethereal Oceanea??? Somehow it all works.

Listening to the album as a complete entity is easy and works very comfortably. I wasn't expecting it to work out quite THAT well.

Jon

Yeah, that's why I struggle to name a fave song, because it's so good in it's entirety, and that's the way I enjoy listening to it. It's almost like naming a favourite part of a piece of music you love.
I compare it to the jeff wayne War of the Worlds album! Not because it's anything like it, it's just a enjoy it as an entire peice so struggle to name a fave 'song' off it.
That said I still say 17 Hills!

[bongsteve]

Oceanea for sure. Immediately fell in love with it on first listen and it's gotten better and better

[demona dragon]

It's a tug of war between Ocenea and 17 Hills in my mind, both are just so good. If I absolutely had to nail it down, Today I would say Oceanea but tomorrow I might say differently

[BlueSilver]

At the moment I'd pick Spice Train, but I have to echo the sentiment of previous posters and say that on certain days, my favorite song is completely different. Such as today. I'm having a 17 Hills kind of day, mainly because I've been working on a drawing inspired by the song.

For me this album really is like the Beatles' Sgt Pepper in the sense that I have to listen to the entire thing to enjoy it properly.

[fredges]

Bought the two-disk set at his Seattle show, and before I was out of the parking garage I cranked Spice Train in the car as loud WifeUnit would let me. Still gets my blood flowing, and makes me wish I could hear it on the sound system in a nightclub!
But there's something about Toadlickers that I can't shake. It just grabs me! And the video is oh-so-marvelous!

[rich_h]

At the Winners Gig, Evil Twin Brother was a highlight for me.

[98/1000]

Yup, Uncle Tom could fill jazz clubs, dancefloors and barnyard hoedowns with his eclectic range of music!

[La Bomba]

As others have said, it is very difficult to choose just one... In fact there are probably six songs on the AMOTFC that I could list here as my favorite, and feel any of them was the right choice. I think that's a testament to how truly deep and rich the music is on this album.

If I had to pick a favorite section, it would be Urbanoia. I absolutely love every track on that part of the album.
However, the 2 songs which affect me the most emotionally are both on Oceanea: the title track, and Simone.

I think, for no other reason than noone else has given it it's props yet, I will cast my vote for "I'm not Your Dog". Not only is that the first track in my Dolby iPod mix, I've dropped that song into at least 4 other playlists on my iPod. The song is just amazing.

[Poyns]

Oceanea for me.

A beautiful, warming song.

[My honda is erratic]

I will add my vote for Evil Twin Brother, wasn't sure of it at first but now a definite favourite.

Cheers

Richard

[heretic]

I have to say that I think this is an almost impossible question to answer. Like many other people here I've found that my favourite will vary from day to day and even from track to track within the same journey.

I have the instrumental album playing on repeat on my ipod at the moment. The main reason being that its the only music I have loaded following the karaoke contest at the 'Winners' gig. Today I was thinking that if Thomas was appearing on Later with Jool Holland what tracks would I like to hear him play.

My choices would be Jealous Thing Called Love and To The Lifeboats (with an encore of Hypperactive). When I listen to these tracks there is something wonderfully quintessential about the writing. Jealous Thing has a whole host of really accessible hooks and the arrangement and playing Thomas has captured on the album really are sumptuious. Lifeboats is just beautiful. Its lyrical and melodic references and plain to see, but it adds a new dimension to the album and I think really is a fantastic closing track.

Road to Reno is another track that would come high up my list and having performed Spice Train with Thomas, Mat and Darren earlier this year at the Vintage festival and a couple of smaller gigs I know its a real crowd pleaser.

All in all I seriously think that AMOTFC is his best album to date. I know GAOW and FE especailly hold a special place in all fan's hearts, but really this album both in terms of its breath and ambition and production deserves to be right up there.

Oh, and Simone! What a track that is. Seriously, this album should have a subtitle of 'An Embarassement of Riches'

There you go, my 2c worth

Andrew

[Retrocanary]

I think if TD perfomed on Later with Jools he'd have to do Toadlickers with Aaron Jonah Lewis' introduction. That would probably get people's attention. Love Is A Loaded Pistol I can imagine would go down well on that show too.

[98/1000]

Interestingly, stevielamb posted in the pub about bumping into Uncle Tom in a restaurant the other day - TD was on his way back from recording something for an anniversary edition of The Old Grey Whistle Test - keep ear to the ground for that one.

[heretic]

I think they just did 2 tracks for the OGWT. Nothing New Under the Sun and an older track. Screen Kiss perhaps. I'll check.

Andrew

[MrNormall]

What is the best track on 'Map of the floating city'?

That's easy: Spice Train.

I like Windpower very much and Spice Train is much like it yet different and new.

[Red Right Hand]

There's not a bad track on there to be honest but Simone is simply beautiful while constantly evolving and still remaining catchy. It works on a lot of levels and throws up both wonderful and disturbing vivid images in my head. Great songs can do so much in such a short time.

[korky123]

"To The Lifeboats" is it for me: With "17 Hills" a close second.

[drinian]

I'm sort of feeling like "Nothing New under the Sun" is the strongest single, but it's as a collection of songs that the album really shines.

[Lens Grinder]

I think if TD perfomed on Later with Jools he'd have to do Toadlickers with Aaron Jonah Lewis' introduction. That would probably get people's attention. Love Is A Loaded Pistol I can imagine would go down well on that show too.

Yes, I wonder if Thomas will be performing on "Later With Jools"?

As for may favourate track it has to be Love Is A loaded Pistol. very few artists can turn out a crafted song of that standard. So short and sweet. Just like the dream its gone as soon as its arrived. Maybe thats wy its being over shadowed by the other songs on this album.

[98/1000]

Yes, not heard a lot of chatter about Love Is A loaded Pistol, but it is such a good track in the middle of an outstanding album.

The instrumental version of this works better than some of the others on the special 2-disc set, as it has a very strong melody - just wonderful!

[Lspin]

I just picked up the 'Floating City' CD as a Christmas present to myself. It's wonderful! Sadly, it's getting **NO** airplay in the Boston area. I'd have to say at this point, my favorite track is "Road to Reno." It's such a great, dark, pop song. And those horns are so cool!

Note to TMDR: How about making copies of these songs available to YouTube so that we can link them to our FaceBook accounts and share them with friends? Otherwise, many of these gems may never be heard. Thank you for a great set of new music!