Restless Spirit Press
“Musically, 'Shotgun' sounds like the result of Steve Earle hopping on stage with Big Star in a dimly lit dive bar with a healthy dose of early Old 97’s. Riggleman’s voice rings with a prophetic honesty over overdriven guitar chords. The song’s mid-tempo lilt sounds like the open road...Riggleman & Co remain grounded in their country roots while allowing their eyes and ears to gaze up at the night sky.”
“The great appeal of 'Restless Spirit' dwells in the trio's tipsy balance between the punk and roots elements of their mix, a blend that can be edgier than alt.country, but more organic than their garage rock peers...Cheap Dates lean more into their country side on this second long-player, even as they never abandon the tension and electricity that binds them...Riggleman's approach to country is as left-of-center as Stephen Malkmus or Paul Westerberg, but lands nearer the target than those earlier acts.”
“One of Restless Spirit’s rockers, 'Shotgun' is one of the most complete-sounding songs from Riggleman yet, glomming onto a polished, swaggering country-rock-power-pop tune and letting Riggleman’s self-effacing side battle it out with a less-frequently-seen confidence (for a lifer like Riggleman, it’s fitting that the key line in the chorus is “I let the music bring me back around”).”
“West Virginia trio showcase strident country rock anchored in bold, anthemic songcraft and deliciously twangy tones.”
“Riggleman has perfected the art of disaffected twangy punk through his solo work and his project Prison Book Club...With their new album 'Restless Spirit', the Cheap Dates unleash their most confident work yet, featuring tales of heartbreak and a renewed dedication to the life of DIY musicians committed to their ideals.” - Rachel Cholst
“With producer Duane Lundy in tow, Tucker Riggleman jangles across 11 songs, as he borrows dark musical elements from Appalachian tradition. Ramblin’ blues tones decorate red-blooded country storytelling, stitched around the outside with static, fuming rock muscles...Tucker Riggleman & the Cheap Dates stretch their performances until they snap, allowing for the band to excel beyond the bounds of their debut...Sit with the record long enough, and you’ll witness exactly how music can change you.”
“When it comes time to write the liner notes for an album, most artists thank their families, friends, fellow bands, and such. Tucker Riggleman does that on Restless Spirit, but he also thanks the Dry Fork of the Cheat River, a cranberry bog, foxes and hawks—major sources of inspiration as he was writing this, his band’s sophomore effort, off the grid in a national forest. He then took that inspiration and cranked out 11 tracks of sturdy, overcast country rock about getting kicked in the teeth by life and getting up the next day. Relatable!” - Ben Salmon
“Tucker Riggleman and the Cheap Dates have a penchant for ripping through blistering garage country tracks about depression, frustration, and loneliness, and 'Restless Spirit' is their most confident venture in that terrain.”
“From the gate, listeners will be met with a winning formula for Tucker and his Cheap Dates, who cross alt-Americana with gothic tinges before twisting into a twangy turnover of blues and slacker rock. Track 1 ‘Educated’ starts things off nice and breezy instrumentally to round out the darker edges of Tucker’s poetry about growth and change from childhood to here and now...Heartland rock a la Tom Petty rings true on Track 4 ‘Shotgun,’ which has my personal favorite lines on the record.”
“Overall, 'Restless Spirit' is another positive step for Tucker Riggleman & The Cheap Dates. You expect twang from the band, and you get it in spades...Truly an excellent album...You can tell Riggleman has roots in poetry. The band is so talented and work so well together. And it all comes together brilliantly. I imagine their live shows are something you’ll remember years later.” - Alex Theel