REVIEW by: Greil Marcus - Real Life Rock Top Ten

"... The Cutters, "(Back in the) 20th Century," from In the Valley of Enchantment (Blackjack) From Humboldt County, California, best known for marijuana plantations in national forests, guitarist Mike Wilson, drummer Ray Johnson, and bassist Tad Sutera use London punk inflections on Angela Brown's American voice for a message no different from that of their neighbor Bigfoot. It's pissed off, it's funny, it's sharp (Brown drops comments on her own lines like Johnny Rotten muttering to Clio), it's alive to its own momentum (the last "No!" following "Nancy Reagan just said" nearly pulls Nancy's size two over her head). As a song about exile in your own hometown, not to mention your own country, or your own century, it can be a stone in your shoe..."

REVIEW by: Josh Rutledge - Now Wave Magazine

Wow. This is the kind of CD that I just love to find in my mailbox: a stellar release from an unknown band that completely reaffirms my faith in independent music. Who in the hell are The Cutters, and why hadn’t I ever heard of them before yesterday?! Well...
I’d say that The Cutters are a band that most of you Now Wave readers would dig. Their sound is a finely-crafted blend of crunchy power pop, anthemic punk rock, effervescent indie pop, and spunky new wave---but they manage to sound far more original and distinctive than your typical pop-punk group ever could. Much of the credit has to go to singer Angela Brown, a sultry-voiced throwback to iconic punk/new wave crooners like Debbie Harry, Martha Davis, Chrissie Hynde, Poly Styrene, Holly Beth Vincent, Debora Iyall, Patty Donahue, and Exene Cervenka. One usually associates the “female-fronted power pop” style with cute, sugary vocals---but this chick sings with guts ! Sure, she can sound “pretty” when she wants to (a lot of the choruses recall the heaven-sent harmonies of the Dance Hall Crashers, and Brown’s vocal tone is reminiscent of Natalie Merchant’s). But her rich, icy delivery oozes pop-star panache & timeless rock n’ roll cool. Ladies and gentlemen, it’s time to meet a major new talent!
Brown is backed by red-hot guitarist Mike Wilson, kick-ass bassist Tad Sutera, and powerhouse drummer Ray Johnson. As a unit, The Cutters sound raw, tight, and full of pulsating rock energy. The production on this second album of theirs is really basic---capturing a very live feel that's free of studio tricks or "professional" gloss. It sounds "good", but the rough edges are intact. And the tunes? They're terrific! Opener “(Back In The) 20th Century” is a lively Fastbacks-esque power pop knockout. “Sushi” is a fantastic arty new wave gem (imagine a poppier Au Pairs....or a female-fronted Adam and the Ants!). “V.O.E.” and “All the Girls” are fun, peppy, infectious blasts of surging punk rock adrenaline. The band's sleepy cover of Blondie’s “Dreaming” is a soft, sexy mini-masterpiece. The wonderful “Type A Girl” punks up Cars-style synth pop hooks to great effect. “Cigarette City” is the best X song John Doe never wrote. “Partly Cloudy” is as beautiful & breezy as anything Mazzy Star ever recorded. You want variety? You got it! No single track stands out; but from front to back, this is a really good album.
One can only hope that The Cutters’ renown soon spreads well beyond Humboldt County, California. If there’s any justice in this world, these guys are gonna be big!
---Joshua Blake Rutledge, opinionated asshole

REVIEW by: In Music We Trust - Mark A. Lawrence the IV
THE CUTTERS - "In The Valley of Enchantment" (Blackjack Humboldt) With their sophomore release The Cutters return with a matured sound to their pop punk style of music which made their debut album so addictive. These songs have such a great energy to them, kept new by a level of experimentation that inspired more confident instrumentation like the solo guitar work of "Type A Girl." This album definitely has a different sound then their first album that makes it a joy to discover. Though I have to admit that I love this band so much, I'd be fine with a hundred albums that sound like their first. Angela Brown has that gravel edged voice that makes you think of 40's pin-up jazz singers or dream punk girl fantasies of women dark tattoos, smoking Camel Lights. Tadd Sutera gives an awesome bass line on "Eric's Room" that sets up a great play to show off his work. "Cigarette City" allows them to really get after it with a dirtier sound than usual that they're able to carry off really well. In The Valley of Enchantment is a great strong second album, that shows The Cutters stretching their legs as a band and as musicians. I look forward to their next release, just wondering where the creative effect of this album will carry them. Until then, I'll enjoy the whole experience of this CD. Rating: B

REVIEW by: Skratch magazine - Tom "Tearaway" Schulte

THE CUTTERS - "In the Valley of Enchantment" Bright and uplifting, smile-inducing indie pop continues to come in quality from the camp of The Cutters. The album is in ten tracks, with an eleventh unlisted track called "Sluggish." That leaves the listed experience bookended with the clarion call to joy, a power pop anthem called "(Back in the) 20th Century" and ending with a cocktail of alcohol and attraction blended with fiddle called "Partly Cloudy." Be that as it may, it is always sunny with The Cutters and this disc is sunshine on a spinning platter.

REVIEW by: peacedogman.com

THE CUTTERS - "In the Valley of Enchantment" (Private) OK...let's just say that if your entire CD collection consists of nothing but DEFLESHED and NAPALM DEATH, you probably aren't going to get into this one. But if (like me), you dig stuff like the first couple of PRETENDERS albums, or anything by brutha WAYNE KRAMER, then this'll be right up your alley. THE CUTTERS dish up a searing old-school power pop sound that grabs the listener from the very first note. Singer Angela Brown's captivating, punchy vocals are the perfect compliment to Mike Wilson's in-yer-face, Billy Zoom-style guitarwork. The formula just works really well for this band. Every song here is captivating and performed with gusto...we're not talking the same 'ol BLANK 182-clone stuff that's been done to death. From the college radio skronk of "Sushi" to the straight-up rocker "All the Girls", Ms. Brown shows us that she's got all the panache and talent of Exene, Chrissie...or maybe even Riff Randell! Expand your horizons and buy this!

REVIEW by: Short Bus Magazine

REVIEW by: Katie P. at KZSU "Zookeeper Online"

The Cutters "In the Valley of Enchantment" - 4 kids from the bay area (as far as I can tell). This is their 2nd album I think and it's quite good. Lots of super catchy pop songs with a punk edge here and there. Great female vocals, crunchy guitars, bass, and drums. Songs range from quite lighthearted and fun to gritty, angry, and sad (although it never gets that sad). This album is a lot of fun and has some high energy. Plus the Blondie cover just makes me laugh. Highly recommended for those wanting catchy pop that rocks a little more. My Picks: 1, 8, 9 (fcc)
For a song by song review click here.

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REVIEWS of the Cutters' first album: "Sunday!, Sunday!, Sunday!"