The blues-rock song “Poison (Hotbox’d)” on Dante Shivers’ solo is a character-driven track about temptation, desire and the consequences of succumbing to temptation. The song is about darker times, but there’s something childish about the way it’s presented that makes this one really fun to listen to. Shivers’ knack for imparting character to familiar feelings is what makes this book stand out. His gritty and expressive voice style suits the genre of garage-blues and adds warmth and attitude to the story of wanting something in spite of knowing what the repercussions are.
The song’s rebellious spirit is natural and not forced and therefore the song has a certain charm without losing the feeling. What I really like about Shivers tackling this topic is that he does so with a sense of humor and honesty, making the music feel personal, real and alive. It’s the sort of songwriting that you can let it go, and that’s what makes it great. Dante Shivers’ new release, “Poison (Hotbox’d),” displays an intriguing and captivating creative persona and storytelling sensibility. A strong debut album that provides another good reason to keep watching his musical path as he grows his music.
