Review Summary: A great album that deserves more attention from more people
Every once in a while, an album comes along where you stop and think "what did I just listen to?" That thought is followed by the thought of "why haven't I started listening to this earlier?"
For myself, this is one of those albums.
To be honest, I discovered Dot Hacker unintentionally. I am a big fan of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and I had been listening to them non-stop for a good chunk of time. I was on the internet searching videos of their current guitarist, Josh Klinghoffer, and stumbled upon a song called "Eye Opener." Not long after listening to the song a couple more times, I was blown away completely. I went right to the internet to research more on this band I have never heard of. I discovered they had a self titled EP and an album entitled "Inhibition". Needless to say, it was quite the discovery.
The first thing people will notice is that this album is very much unlike what Josh had been doing with RHCP. It is more of an experimental rock album, even dabbing a lot into psychedelic elements. There is a good mix of more rocking numbers (album opener "Order/Disorder" is a prime example), and what I would call dreamy songs ("Eye Opener" is my personal favourite, along with the title track). There are a couple songs that are even dance-able (being "Discotheque" and "Be Leaving"), but to be honest every song can hold its own.
I have very few complaints about the album, truth be told. First is the vocals. Josh, in my opinion, is an underrated vocalist. I actually enjoy his singing style and his lyricism...when I can understand him. Now, this isn't really a huge complaint on my end, but truth be told, sometimes it is completely impossible to understand what he is singing. Another little gripe I have in relation to the lyrics is that they aren't published. Now I do own albums where the lyrics aren't published and I am fine with it (any Korn album), but these lyrics really do deserve to have an official publication.
What I really love about this album is the atmosphere it creates, which is the greatest part of this album. Listening to "Eye Opener" with your eyes closed in a dark room is an awesome experience because of the scope of the song. It sounds big in an internal way (I hope you get at what I'm trying to say.) Songs like "The Earth Beneath" and "Quotes" also have an outstanding presence; some very calm instrumentation with moments of outburst that just scream pure magic.
Overall, Josh and co. have created a really memorable album to add to your collection. If you're a fan of RHCP, be warned; this is nothing like their music. This album is an entity of its own. Truly a must buy for fans of psychedelic rock, experimental rock, or even people who just want to discover something new and exciting.
