The Cruxis the third studio album fromDjo, the musical identity ofactor Joe Keery, who you might know from Netflix’sStranger Things. That identity was a relatively well-kept secret up until “End of Beginning,” a track off of his second album, went viral on TikTok.
Prior to that moment, Djo mostly used music as something to work on in between filming that worked the creative muscle in his brain, pulling inspiration from artists like Tame Impala and The Cars. OnThe Crux, Djo lets the disguises fall away, opting to perform and speak as his most authentic self.
Described in an interview withNMEas a “musical diary,“it’s no surprise that his third album should feature the same self-reflection and honesty that reeled listeners in to 2019’sTwenty Twentyand 2022’sDECIDE.Rather than recording tracks at home and being limited to what he had access to on his laptop, however,The Cruxwas recorded at New York’s Electric Lady Studios, the host to iconic sessions from artists like David Bowie, Jimi Hendrix, and The Rolling Stones.
It’s access to these resources and musical freedom that allowed Djo to find his footing on this album. Where his previous albums are defined by their immense production and heavy synths,The Cruxlets all of his disguises fall away, leaving behind nothing but the true meanings of his words, which reverberate into the listener with clear understanding. Below is my immediate ranking of each track on the album after my first listen.
12Link
Track 3 - 3:15
Let it be known that there are no bad tracks on this album. However, something had to come last. “Link” is an enigma on this album with its rhythmic electric guitar and striking ’80s energy. Djo stutters through each pre-chorus, almost hesitating to say the next words while also placing more emphasis on them.
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His vocals are grittier than listeners might be used to,just one example of how much more comfortable he’s gotten with placing his voice front and center.Unfortunately, the rest of the tracks stood out much more to me after my first listen.
11Delete Ya
Track 5 - 3:23
As one of three pre-release singles, “Delete Ya” still stands asa great foundation for the album to stand on. He takes the simple, modern idea of deleting something from our devices and spins it as a metaphor for removing the memories of someone or somewhere from our minds.
He takes the simple, modern idea of deleting something from our devices and spins it as a metaphor.
Sadly, it’s not as easy to remove a person from our memory as it is to delete one single image from our camera roll, even though Djo makes it sound pretty simple here. Again, still a great song, but I already had it on repeat for weeks.
10Basic Being Basic
Track 2 - 2:38
This is the first pre-release single fromThe Crux, and Djo’s first release since the virality of “End of Beginning.” It cuts straight to the point, providing commentary onthe fear of becoming known as aone-hit wonderat a time when one post on TikTok can be the difference between a song’s success or supposed failure.
Djo doesn’t want his music to be loved for superficial reasons, and doesn’t want to go out of style based on an algorithm. It’s an extremely important song to add to his discography, and one that I’ll keep coming back to.
9Gap Tooth Smile
Track 9 - 2:58
In “Gap Tooth Smile,” Djo leans into a head-banging instrumental and a Bowie-esque vocal delivery to get across the love he feels for the girl with the titular gap-toothed smile, referencing Freddie Mercury along the way in the choruses. He is (or was) in love, and he can’t help but share just how beautiful she is to him with her unique smile and the happiness she brings him. It’s a sickeningly sweet track that is yet another welcome departure from what fans are used to in his instrumentals and production.
8Fly
Track 7 - 5:25
On an album filled with ancient guitar sounds and delightfully unpredictable production, “Fly” leans into both of those aspects completely. It starts with a haunting introduction where Djo states that he wishes for the bloom of spring.
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He’s tired of running through the snow and shivering through the cold of winter to get to the rays of sunshine that he knows await him on the other side. It then transitions into a swooning lament on a life full of constant movement and change, something that most people on this planet will know a little bit about.
7Golden Line
Track 10 - 3:22
Much like The Beach Boys or “How Can You Mend a Broken Heart” by Bee Gees, Djo starts “Golden Line” with sweeping harmonies accompanied by a style of piano playing that can only be compared to that of classic 70s ballads. This could’ve been pulled from the1970s' extensive catalog of love songsfrom the likes of Bread and Billy Joel.
“Golden Line” with sweeping harmonies accompanied by a style of piano playing that can only be compared to that of classic 70s ballads.
It’s dreamy, swoon-worthy, and romantic enough to make anyone long for a love like this.The production isn’t as complicated as the rest of the tracks on this list, but it’s a solid track nonetheless.
6Potion
Track 4 - 2:47
Yet another love song, this time in the style of HAIM’s “Leaning On You” with a vocal delivery that sounds similar to George Harrison onBrainwashed. In contrast to “Golden Line” and its reliance on the piano, “Potion” relies on a simple acoustic guitar, a slide guitar, and an orchestral instrumental that builds towards the end until it crashes over you with its beauty. If there’s anything this and the rest of these tracks prove, it’s that Djo knows how to build a song to either an absurdly great bridge or a stunning outro.
5Crux
Track 12 - 3:43
On the album’s closing track, Djo tackles its title head-on. A crux is the most important issue at hand, or one’s most important decision. OnThe Crux, it’s clear that Djo is grappling with the idea of aging after turning 30 while creating this album, as well as the importance of remaining true to yourself.
Get back to your heart
Only if you give it back again
Will you give it back? (You give it back)
He repeats the idea of getting “back to your heart,” which I assume means returning to what brings you joy, who makes you feel loved, and what you’re passionate about, something everyone needs to hear at some point in their lives.It’s a perfect closer.
4Egg
Track 6 - 4:35
If there was ever a song that makes you feel like you’re following the artist down an endless hallway where they keep pulling you in the opposite direction to where you think you’re going, “Egg” is just that. It’s a sonic, introspective journey, andI believe the egg is a metaphor for hiding away from the world in a fragile shell of your own making, something that I can only imagine Djo has some experience with. His vocal delivery reminds me of Bowie yet again, and I can’t think of another modern song that sounds quite like this.
3Lonesome Is A State of Mind
Track 1 - 4:19
It’s impressive for an album’s opening track to stick with me long after listening to every track that follows. “Lonesome Is A State of Mind,” to me, is about finding comfort in being alone with yourself and your mind in such a loud, overwhelming world. It’s a slow start to the album that picks up more and more as it goes on, with that second chorus drop and its chanting harmonies being my favorite part. If lonesome is a state of mind, then you can turn it off freely and be content with being alone, something we should all learn.
Lonesome is a state of mind
Yeah, the future’s over
Don’t drag me anymore
I’m done
Two for life
Thought that you were on my side
No, you’re not lonely when you’re hanging with yourself
