“In all seriousness folks this is a bad ass album. It’s a great soundtrack for those late night whiskey and lounge chair sessions when you wonder what the hell you have done with your life. I have never ever had one of those, I swear, but if I ever think I might this is one of the albums going on that random playlist…If they, meaning Prison Book Club, keep this up they could start knocking on the doors of the likes of Lucero for my favourite drinking music…There is a lot of talent here and they bring it together in a way that, obviously, makes a man want a drink. And I can’t think of a higher compliment I could pay these guys.” – Ninebullets.net
“I like Prison Book Club (PBC) and John Miller because they are country of the unpretentious sort with out fancy, artsy, or gypsy indie rock cover-ups, which is actually kind of rare around here. It’s like a breath of fresh air that says “hey it’s ok to just be country if you want to be” and PBC whispering in the background “as long as we can rock too”. – Bucket of Rock
“…What is undeniable about the group is the fact that they’re the best alt-country outfit this area has seen. Sure, there’s a lack of competition for them but it would take quite awhile for anyone to match them.” – WVRockscene
“Prison Book Club’s sound has the feel of old-time classic rock and roll with a twist of southern rock and country rock influences. It truly is unique and cannot easily be classified under a single genre. In a polluted world of “one-trick pony” bands, Prison Book Club is able to stand out with their combination of several sounds mixed expertly to form a sold, tight-knit band.” – The Daily Athenaeum
“There’s something authentic in Miller’s necessary disguising of emotions. He talks openly about the pain of busted relationships, no doubt. Yet, he never quite gives his estranged women the satisfaction of acknowledgement. They’ll win and he’ll lose, but he’ll make for damn sure they’ll never know about it entirely.” – Graffiti
“Prison Book Club brings to the fore the best of the two genesis bands with Miller’s carefully crafted, achingly lonesome lyrics and Meisterhans’ and Riggleman’s proficiency on guitar and bass, respectively. Andrew Ford adds a complementing beat to frame the outfit’s tales of heartache and regret, adding splashes of character when Miller’s words, delivered in a raspy, confident tone, call for just such an accent.” – Wild Blog
“…if you’re a fan of early Lucero and grittier DBT (think Cooley songs) you’re likely a fan of Prison Book Club.” - Dixie Punk DC
“Now we get a little more country and a little more rock n roll with Big Bullet Record’s latest artist, Prison Book Club. It’s good ‘ol southern rock. They’ve got the type of songs that make you want to party and the type of songs that you might listen to after you get your heart broken. Basically, they’ve got all you need in life.” – IndieShows.net
“Remember back in the early 90′s when punk and twang were being mixed together to create an exciting new sound we didn’t know what to call….that’s what Prison Book Club sounds like. The easiest comparison I can make to Prison Book club however, is early Lucero. More specifically the first self titled Lucero album. Lots of twang, lots of guitar, lots of self reflecting whiskey soaked lyrics that just beg you to sing along…This album is recommended for anyone who likes their twang served with a healthy portion of rock….or vice versa. Either way, this is the album you want to turn up to 11, rip the knob off (as Patterson Hood says), and pour a shot or 5 of the cheap stuff.” – A Truer Sound
“PBC’s debut, Required Reading, is a rollicking eight-song release described by the band as “PBR-mageddon“. Presumably this has something to do with the remnants of the alt.country boom of the ’90s, but with earnest lyrics laced over such solid craftsmanship and production, I’m less concerned with where it came from and more entertained by speculating where it’s going. Required Reading is a high-water mark for the label.”
- Mike Sizemore for Rock O’ Clock
“[Prison Book Club] combines to form a miasmicly coherent countrified rock band with a hard edge, well worth the money to see live…Miller and Riggleman have an established reputation within the Shepherdstown music scene as solid songwriters…the songs have depth, dealing with small town rumor mills, love, and heartbrreak, among a host of other rural-alt-youth topics.”
- Michael Theis for The Shepherdstown Chronicle