Djo - The Crux

Though he might be best known for his acting, that’s by no means the only string Joe Keery has to his bow. A former member of psych-rockers Post Animal, the multi-hyphenate has been releasing music under the moniker Djo for years, notching up two synthy, electronic-led albums (2019’s ‘Twenty Twenty’ and 2022’s ‘DECIDE’) and one very viral song (the TikTok hit ‘End Of Beginning’). His third solo outing, however, is something altogether more full-bodied - an ambitious, joyous, heartfelt collection that finds him revelling in analogue instrumentation, expansive arrangements, and unashamedly retro sonic touchstones. 

To listen to ‘The Crux’ is, we imagine, akin to taking a guided tour through a young Joe’s record collection: the formative influence of The Strokes and Tame Impala is palpable (see opener ‘Lonesome Is A State Of Mind’’s vocal tone and the understated funk of ‘Delete Ya’, respectively); and, travelling further back, the glittery fingerprints of Marc Bolan and the like are stamped all over the rollicking glam-rock of ‘Link’ and ‘Gap Tooth Smile’. ‘Charlie’s Garden’, meanwhile, is pure ‘Sgt. Pepper’s’ - all metronomic keys, dynamic shifts and even a buoyant brass solo - evoking ‘A Day In The Life’ in such a celebratory, knowingly referential way that you can’t help but leave your cynicism at the (greenhouse) door and delight in its madness.

And, while the album’s sonics pay homage to years gone by, any whispers of hackneyed ideas are quashed by its refreshing thematic arc, wherein Joe reassesses his priorities after a perspective-altering breakup to find solace in unwavering friendships and familial bonds - a conclusion best encapsulated by the choral swell of ‘Back On You’, which could soften even the hardest of hearts.

With credits on ‘The Crux’ that run the gamut from vocals, guitar, and bass to drums, percussion, piano, and Mellotron (not to mention co-production), it’s undeniable that Joe is a hugely accomplished musician; what’s even better, though - for an artist with his cultural cachet - is just how much fun he’s having doing it.