Label: AWAL
Released: 4th April 2025
Having already established himself as a psych-rock auteur and alt-pop shapeshifter, Djo’s viral moment arrived with impeccable timing. With a sincerely formidable back catalogue, he offered new listeners plenty to explore but was already deep enough into his next project that any attempt to cater to this newfound attention would be pointless. ‘The Crux’ doesn’t react to the obvious surge but sidesteps it entirely, reaffirming Keery’s strong instinct to carve out his own path.
Lead single ‘Basic Being Basic’ reintroduces Djo’s signature warbling synths alongside a massive pop chorus, its sharp-witted critique of performative relatability providing an immediate hook. Yet, it’s something of an outlier on an album that largely pushes his sound into new terrain. From the shifting structures of opener ‘Lonesome Is A State Of Mind’, it’s clear that expectations should be kept loose – ‘The Crux’ is a 12-track testament to how far Keery is willing to take his craft.
‘Potion’ pairs jangling guitars with shimmering vocals, a dynamic Keery has refined through live performance – the fact that he writes, sings, and plays almost every instrument on such a layered track underscores his hands-on approach. Elsewhere, ‘Delete Ya’ reinvents the existential disconnection of ‘End Of Beginning’, this time exploring detachment through a more superficial lens but remaining just as emotionally potent, wrapped in an effortless, low-key bop of a chorus.
From here, Djo goes deliciously off the rails. The truly soaring ‘Fly’ trades nostalgia for forward momentum, while ‘Charlie’s Garden’ leans into Beatles-esque eccentricity, sculpting a surreal portrait of slowing things down. ‘Gap Tooth Smile’ nods to Freddie Mercury with full-throttle glam-rock swagger and theatrical flair that is destined to thrive on stage.
The album’s closing trio of softer, melodic tracks find their own moments to swell and break, balancing choral arrangements, piano flourishes, and intricate harmonies. The title-track, in particular, highlights a need for connection (“get back to your heart!”), reinforced by the presence of Keery’s family and friends throughout the record. Otherwise defined by introspection and reinvention, this sense of unity brings a warm community spirit to the illusive thematic journey of the record.
Lighter and more fluid than his 2022 opus ‘DECIDE’, ‘The Crux’ embraces unpredictability, offering an eclectic, textured venture through Djo’s ever-expanding sonic universe. Less tightly wound but freely expressive and exploratory, it cements Keery as an artist unafraid to navigate emotional crossroads through a kaleidoscope of sounds, personas, and stories that all seem to pull from a truly multifaceted reality.
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