Dag Juhlin - Into the Woods (Self Released)

Reviewed by Theresa Killebrew

Google the name Dag Juhlin and fifteen pages of actual Dag Juhlin related links come up. That’s fifteen pages of Chicago Music History, which translates to about 20 years. The last 12 of those years were spent creating Into the Woods, Dag’s solo Debut. Well, that is, when Dag wasn’t busy playing guitar for Poi Dog Pondering or for garage rockers the Goldstars or fronting local legends the Slugs. He also writes music for the local theater scene, and serves as the Sound Opinions comical Poet Laureate. I think Dag may secretly write stand up comedy as well, given the hilarity of his live show. Secretly, or in his magazine parody The Tri-County Sampler. He has recently returned from a tour with John Wesley Harding and Scott McCaughey. That’s a pretty impressive resume, but then, Dag is a musical genius. He plays the guitar like no one else on the planet. People have invented names for the way he plays, like “grip it and rip it”, but I prefer Dag’s own description, “chugging…loose limbed showmanship.” When Dag is onstage, it is impossible to take your eyes off his hands. How does he do that? Into the Woods is full of sweet guitar melodies that stop just short of a full on attack when he plays them live. Nice touches like piano and violin add warmth and depth, and Dag is lyrically a master of metaphor with a penchant for storytelling. Although his lyrics lean toward a certain sentimentality I tend not to love, I reach for this album every couple days. The opening track, “Man in the Mirror” should already be in regular rotation on Chicago’s WXRT (93.1). The fact that it isn’t feels sometimes like a testament to Clear Channel’s growing control over what used to be Chicago’s Finest Rock. Aside from "Man in the Mirror", “I am Ready” and “Little Black Glasses” (perhaps for rather obvious reasons) are my favorite tracks. If you have the chance, I highly recommend that you take any opportunity to see these songs performed live, it is an evening well spent. To purchase Dag things, please visit his website at www.DagJuhlin.com.

Originally posted in Issue 2.1, January/February 2005