Djo’s ‘The Crux’ is Not Scared of Being Basic

Djo, Joe Keery’s brainchild, is not scared of being basic with their new album “The Crux”. Read our review on it to learn more.

On April 4th, 2025, Djo, released his third studio record, The Crux. Duo comprises of Joe Keery, who is known for playing Steve Harrington in the hit show “Stranger Things“. The record hits a run time of a solid 45 minutes and is 12 tracks long. The trackless is comprised of random, mostly one-word titles. Making it difficult to determine the album’s subject or decide whether there’s one at all. Listeners across the internet have shared their love for the piece, or their turmoil surrounding the album. But with a colorful, chaotic, yet playful vibe of an album cover, Djo won’t sell you short on a journey.

The record starts off with the song “Lonesome Is A State of Mind”. The track begins with an acoustic guitar and the voice of our film star, Djo. Keery is portraying feeling of being alone in a large city like, New York City, or Djo’s hometown, Chicago. However, as the song progresses, more instruments are introduced, and a chorus of people begins to sing along. Perhaps Keery utilizes the chorus of allude that there are others who feel this same sense of isolation. This song is a great opener for this record as it’s sad, yet cheery. It spoons us a taste, but doesn’t give too much of what lies ahead.

It then smoothly transitions into Djo’s hit single “Basic Being Basic”. The somewhat Steve Harrington-sounding track writes a great message to its listeners, encouraging them to be themselves. Its upbeat and cheesy demeanor makes it well-deserving of being his second most popular hit.

Like many other tracks throughout the record, it is clear that Keery has taken inspiration from some of more folksy tunes. Building this record, Djo seems to be all over the place. Picking and choosing from his all-time favorites like Paul McCartney with “Charles’s Garden” and The Strokes with “Delete Ya”. We also hear influences of Steely Dan, Fleetwood Mac, and Elton John mastery at play within these 45 minutes. It brings us back to that 70s musical era of heartbreak slow jams that made us both dance and cry. However, experiencing The Crux for the first time, these influences were overwhelming and raised questions about Djo’s originality and authenticity.

Lyrically, each track begins with a story, follows a plot, and then leaves off unfinished, creating disorientation for the listener. It’s all over the place, yet somehow sounds cohesive. And maybe that’s the point of The Crux. It’s not supposed to make sense, especially if “you’re 29 and misaligned”. Whether you love it or hate it, Djo has created work that many people will enjoy. The Crux will likely end up on your spring playlist!