Throughout the '80s and '90s, Froom helped shape albums by artists as diverse as Elvis Costello, Richard Thompson, and Los Lobos. Here, he plays a myriad of keyboard instruments (including toy piano and accordion as well as the inevitable piano and Hammond organ), creates colorful electronic effects, and composes all of the songs with the help of an all-star lineup of guests who provide the lyrics and melodies. His wife, Suzanne Vega, supplies the vocals for the title track; Mark Eitzel is featured in the mournful French chanson-flavored "Watery Eyes;" Sheryl Crow is the surprising collaborator on the frantic and high-strung "Monkey Mind."
Froom has his musical vision looking both forward and backward, mixing contemporary production techniques (as in the heavy drum loops provided by Jerry Marotta and The Attractions' Pete Thomas) with allusions to classic pop from the '60s. Witness the "Green Onions"-like organ bass in "The Bunny," the carnival psychedelia in "Monkey Mind" (surely inspired by The Beatles' "Mr. Kite"), and the "Sexy Sadie"-esque piano in "Overcast." Other highlights include the cubist blues stomp that is "I'd Better Not," the tango-like "Fruta Prohibita," and the Turkish-flavored "Kitsum," making DOPAMINE a true kaleidoscope of musical colors.