It was a lazy sunday afternoon in the barren countryside. I was lazying in front of the TV after a family feast. Bored, I switched to the blues music channel. I had an epiphany. It was so good. I had to get myself some more blues. Not being entirely familiar with the genre, I decided to go at it through more modern bands, in the form of garage blues. I got myself the latest Black Keys album (Attack and Release). So being a newly converted garage blues fan, I was happy to hear that The Pretty Blue Guns, a local band, from Stellenbosch, South Africa, were to release an album.

I’ve heard these guys since they played at a Battle of the Bands when they were still called “Sway”. So on a lazy sunday afternoon I gave Cutting Heads a listen. It’s awesome. Maybe, it’s me just having a new craving for anything blues related, but its good.

“How much I want to love and how little I know”. I nodded my head to the lyrics of the first tune. The album is peppered with traditional blues lyrics. But hey, that’s what blues are all about. It comes across in many of the songs. I’m not complaining. Even if you don’t have the blues, it’s great to sing along too.

The album is mostly garage blues with hints of punk, indie and country. Call To Arms reminds oneself of indie, Dadada is punky and Devil Do, the crowd sing-along tune is reminiscent of country. The album is pretty well produced by none other than Schalk Joubert. Even with all these different sounds, Cutting Heads remains quintessentially garage blues.

My favourite song is not their first single, Bad Liver Blues, but Two Blue Birds. It begins slowly, provoking images of a dry and hot nevada desert. It then progresses brilliantly into an epic bluesy tune. It all flows so perfectly. I can just imagine myself driving around in bat country in a convertible and listening to this tune. This is what its all about.

In conclusion, if you are a fan of any version of the blues, you will love Cutting Heads. If not, put on some Guns, grab yourself some whiskey and a straw hat, and watch the world sweetly pass you by as the sunset dries the horizon.