Review: "The Crux" Should Redefine Djo
Key Track: “Potion”
Score: ★★★★½
Joe Keery’s work has been boiled down to Steve Harrington from “Stranger Things,” but this label shouldn’t define his 10 years in the entertainment industry. Keery, under his stage name “Djo", is the voice behind the TikTok hit “End of Beginning,” which was released with his album “DECIDE” in 2022 and climbed the charts for the first time in 2024. With “The Crux”, Keery’s third album, he tries to separate his work as Djo and an actor, evidenced by the album’s visual of Keery escaping a building.
The album opens with “Lonesome Is a State of Mind,” easing the listener into the roller coaster of life the album discusses. Above the relaxing, soft-rock melody, the song reflects on the unpredictable moments in life; how a person could plan every step of their life just for one part of the plan to collapse and create a domino effect. The track channels David Bowie and The Cars, some of the biggest influences on the album.
“Basic Being Basic” is one of the album's three lead singles, introducing the separation of Keery’s music and acting. Through lyrics like “I don’t want your money, I don’t want your fame /I don’t wanna live a life where that’s my big exchange,” Djo eases back into his techno-like background melodies. He reflects on wanting something “real” beyond the superficiality that comes from acting, which he thinks could be achieved by making music under his stage name.
The album’s third lead single, “Potion,” might be the best song on the album. With elements of Fleetwood Mac, the self-written song talks about believing in and looking to fall in love in the smallest of places (i.e. “looking through love in an alphabet soup cup” or “in the little rainclouds”) through its upbeat and lightweight melodies and vocals. “Potion” is one of those songs a person has to hear to understand how good of a song it is, but out of Djo’s entire discography, “Potion” stands out as one of his freshest, most unique tracks.
“Delete Ya” continues the trend of vivid storytelling Djo brings to his music. In a way, the song is a soft-rock twist to “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” as Djo goes back to his old apartment with the memories of a past relationship flowing through his mind as he opens the apartment door and remembers the songs they used to sing. “Egg” continues this narrative by telling the story of how fear can be overpowering, causing one to take steps back by “letting fear take that” and going back to the “egg” of safety and security.
The next song, “Fly,” illustrates moving on from a relationship and reaching the “acceptance” stage of grief. By “fly[ing] away from her” and closing this chapter of his life, he would finally be able to move on without the fear of continuously reflecting on the relationship. “Fly” finds itself at a slower pace than “Delete Ya” or “Egg,” signifying the slow process of moving forward.
“Gap Tooth Smile” continues the themes from “Potion” through its upbeat melody and influences from David Bowie and Queen. However, the three-track run of “Golden Line,” “Back On You” and “Crux” returns to the soft indie melodies from “Fly” while bringing nostalgia to the aftermath of “Potion.” A person one would live for, trust and make proud is a person with a “Golden Line.” The song discovers that even if “the world can be so cruel,” there’s still someone to “do it all [for].” “Back On You” continues this theme through a family lens and leaning back on one’s brothers and sisters.
As “Crux” closes the curtain, the track brings the ballad and piano melody into the album. The song sees Keery circling back to his desire for authenticity and realness that “Basic Being Basic” introduces. The lyrics “Let it be what it is / Let it out from inside you / Get it back to your heart,” reference the need for self-assurance and acceptance told through the stories of “Egg” and “Fly.” The song ends on a high note (quite literally), but also leaves the listener with the idea that whatever happens, happens. “Crux” is the best conclusion for the project, summarizing the main themes of the album.
One of the many draws to Djo’s music is the indie elements that back his reflections on different parts of life and how to get back up, making each track more personal. His lyrics ease into the relatability of reminiscing about what could’ve been different, even if it is out of a person’s control. “The Crux” demonstrates Djo’s growth as an artist. In “DECIDE” and “Twenty Twenty,” Djo leaned into electronic beats and elements of psychedelic pop. While these elements are still present, they are overshadowed by the album's new soft rock melodies and inspiration from classic artists. “The Crux” has the ability to become a timeless record, with no two songs alike, opening new doors for what storytelling in albums can be.
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