The Crux (Djo album)

The Crux
Studio album by
Djo
ReleasedApril 4, 2025 (2025-04-04)
StudioElectric Lady (New York City)
Length45:13
LabelDjo Music (via AWAL)
Producer
Djo chronology
Decide
(2022) 		The Crux
(2025)
Singles from The Crux
  1. "Basic Being Basic"
    Released: January 24, 2025
  2. "Delete Ya"
    Released: February 27, 2025
  3. "Potion"
    Released: April 2, 2025

The Crux is the third studio album by the American actor and musician Joe Keery, under his alias Djo. It was released independently under AWAL on April 4, 2025, and served as the follow-up to his previous album, Decide (2022). Keery co-produced The Crux with his frequent collaborator Adam Thein at Electric Lady Studios in New York City. Three singles—"Basic Being Basic", "Delete Ya", and "Potion"—preceded the album. Upon its release, it was met with generally favorable reception from music critics. To promote The Crux, Keery is embarking on the Back on You World Tour between February and October 2025.

Background

Joe Keery saw breakthrough success in his musical career, under the alias Djo, with the sleeper hit "End of Beginning" (2024). One of the singles from his second studio album, Decide (2022), it was the sixth song with the most streams in 2024 and charted in 41 countries, including in the United States with a peak at number 11. It also received certifications in nearly 20 nations.[1] Keery started teasing his third album on social media at the beginning of 2025.[2]

Production and composition

Keery worked with his frequent collaborator Adam Thein for The Crux. They co-produced the album at Electric Lady Studios in New York City.[1] According to DIY, the lyrical themes center on "a hotel housing guests who are all [...] at crossroads in their life".[3]

Release

On January 24, 2025, Keery announced his third album, The Crux, and revealed its track listing and cover artwork.[4][5] He also released its lead single, "Basic Being Basic", and performed it on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon four days later.[6] The album was supported by a concert tour titled Back on You World Tour between February and June 2025, which passed through North America, Europe, and Australia.[7][8][9] The American band Post Animal, which Keery was part before his solo career, served as the opening act.[4][7] "Delete Ya" was released as the second single on February 27, 2025,[10] followed by "Potion" on April 2.[11] The Crux was released on April 4, 2025, via the distribution company AWAL.[1]

Commercial performance

The Crux debuted at number 50 on the US Billboard 200, including number 11 on the Independent Albums and number 10 on the Top Alternative & Rock Albums charts selling 8,000 pure album sales.[12] As of July 2025, the album has sold 79,000 equivalent album units in the US.[13]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?7.4/10[14]
Metacritic73/100[15]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[16]
Clash8/10[17]
DIY[18]
Dork4/5[19]
The Line of Best Fit8/10[20]
Paste8.2/10[21]
Pitchfork5.9/10[22]
Rolling Stone[23]

On the review aggregator site Metacritic, The Crux received a weighted mean score of 73 out of 100 based on 10 critics' reviews, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[15] The music writing site Pitchfork gave the album a 5.9 out of 10, praising its "vibey prompts," while simultaneously criticizing the album for its "tendency to mistake mere observation for insight" and for being "frictionless" and "uncanny."[24] Rolling Stone awarded the album 3.5 stars, referring to it as "the best music of his career."[25] The site AnyDecentMusic? gave it a score of 7.4 out of 10, based on their assessment of the critical consensus from 11 reviews.[14]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Joe Keery; "Lonesome Is a State of Mind", "Delete Ya", and "Egg" written with Adam Thein.

The Crux track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Lonesome Is a State of Mind"4:19
2."Basic Being Basic"2:38
3."Link"3:15
4."Potion"2:47
5."Delete Ya"3:23
6."Egg"4:35
7."Fly"5:25
8."Charlie's Garden"3:25
9."Gap Tooth Smile"2:58
10."Golden Line"3:22
11."Back on You"5:23
12."Crux"3:43
Total length:45:13

Personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.[26]

  • Joe Keery – lead vocals, production (all tracks); electric guitar (tracks 1, 3-9, 11), acoustic guitars (tracks 1, 2, 4, 6-8, 11), drums (tracks 1, 4, 6, 10, 11), mellotron (tracks 1, 4, 7, 10), bass guitar (tracks 1, 3-6, 11), piano (tracks 8, 12)
  • Adam Thein – production (all tracks), piano (tracks 1, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11), synthesizer (2, 3), additional instrumentation (4), bass guitar (7, 9)
  • Heba Kadry – mastering
  • Manny Marroquin – mixing
  • John Rooney - Engineer, Additional production (tracks 2, 5, 7, 11)
  • Emma Keery – background vocals (tracks 1–3, 10, 11)
  • Kate Keery – background vocals (tracks 1–3, 10, 11)
  • Lizzy Keery - stomps (track 11), claps (track 11)[27]
  • Wesley Toledo – drums (tracks 1, 3, 5–9, 11, 12), background vocals (tracks 3, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12)
  • Austin Christy – assistant engineer, background vocals (tracks 1-3, 6, 8, 11)
  • Zach Brown - Engineer (track 8)
  • Zem Audu – saxophone (track 6)
  • Ana Monwah Lei – cello (track 7)
  • Sally Gorski – violin (track 7)
  • Charlie Heaton – additional instrumentation (track 8), spoken word vocals (track 8)
  • Josh Shpak – piccolo (track 8)
  • Rob Moose – violin (track 10)
  • Javier Reyes – acoustic guitar (track 12), background vocals (tracks 11, 12), Wurlitzer (track 12)
  • Matt Williams – 12-string acoustic guitar (track 12), background vocals (tracks 8, 11, 12), claps (track 8) [27]
  • Dalton Allison – bass guitar (track 12), background vocals (tracks 11, 12)[27]
  • Jake Hirshland - synthesizer (track 11), background vocals (tracks 11, 12) [27]

Charts

Chart performance for The Crux
Chart (2025) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[28] 31
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[29] 99
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[30] 186
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[31] 96
Irish Albums (IRMA)[32] 92
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[33] 34
Scottish Albums (OCC)[34] 11
UK Albums (OCC)[35] 54
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[36] 9
US Billboard 200[37] 50
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[38] 11
US Top Rock & Alternative Albums (Billboard)[39] 10

References

  1. ^ a b c Mitchell, Matt (January 24, 2025). "Djo Drops Early SOTY Contender, Announces New Album The Crux". Paste. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
  2. ^ "It looks like we're getting new music from Djo this month – Music news live". Dork. January 7, 2025. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
  3. ^ Carter, Daisy (January 24, 2025). "Djo announces new album 'The Crux'". DIY. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
  4. ^ a b Paul, Larisha (January 24, 2025). "Djo Isn't Impressed by Illusions on New Single 'Basic Being Basic' From Upcoming Album 'The Crux'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
  5. ^ Kurp, Josh (January 24, 2025). "Djo (Joe Keery From 'Stranger Things') Is Going On Tour To Support His New Album 'The Crux'". Uproxx. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
  6. ^ Newton, Felicity (January 24, 2025). "Djo has announced his new album 'The Crux' with early single 'Basic Being Basic' and a UK tour". Dork. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
  7. ^ a b Vito, Jo (January 24, 2025). "Djo Announces New Album The Crux, 2025 Tour Dates". Consequence. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
  8. ^ "Djo Begins Again With 'Basic' Single, New Album, Tour". Spin. January 24, 2025. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
  9. ^ Gregory, Allie (January 24, 2025). "Djo Announces New Album 'The Crux,' Plots World Tour". Exclaim!. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
  10. ^ Chelosky, Danielle (February 27, 2025). "Djo – "Delete Ya"". Stereogum. Retrieved March 1, 2025.
  11. ^ Mier, Tomás (April 2, 2025). "Djo Previews Album 'The Crux' With New Single, 'Potion'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 2, 2025.
  12. ^ Caulfield, Keith (April 17, 2025). "Tracy Chapman's Debut Album Hits Top 10 on Billboard's Album Sales Chart After Vinyl Reissue". Billboard. Retrieved June 18, 2025.
  13. ^ Rutherford, Kevin (July 21, 2025). "Djo Scores First Airplay Chart No. 1 With 'Basic Being Basic'". Billboard. Retrieved July 25, 2025.
  14. ^ a b "The Crux by Djo reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved April 6, 2025.
  15. ^ a b "The Crux by Djo Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
  16. ^ Collar, Matt. "The Crux – Djo". AllMusic. Retrieved April 5, 2025.
  17. ^ Hague, Lauren (April 3, 2025). "Djo – The Crux". Clash. Retrieved April 4, 2025.
  18. ^ Carter, Daisy. "Djo - The Crux". DIY. Retrieved April 4, 2025.
  19. ^ Holden, Finlay (April 3, 2025). "Djo – The Crux". Dork. Retrieved April 4, 2025.
  20. ^ Williams, Lana (April 4, 2025). "Djo proves himself on The Crux". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved April 4, 2025.
  21. ^ Fechik, Mariel (April 4, 2025). "Djo Finds Purpose and Shelter in The Crux of It All". Paste. Retrieved April 5, 2025.
  22. ^ Cohen, Ian (April 8, 2025). "Djo: The Crux Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved April 8, 2025.
  23. ^ Lonsdale, John (April 4, 2025). "Djo Is Anything but Basic on 'The Crux'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 5, 2025.
  24. ^ Cohen, Ian. "Djo: The Crux". Pitchfork. Retrieved May 10, 2025.
  25. ^ Lonsdale, John (April 4, 2025). "Djo Is Anything but Basic on 'The Crux'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 10, 2025.
  26. ^ "The Crux / Djo / Credits". Tidal. Retrieved July 7, 2025.
  27. ^ a b c d 'The Crux' vinyl liner notes
  28. ^ "ARIA Top 50 Albums Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. April 14, 2025. Retrieved April 11, 2025.
  29. ^ "Ultratop.be – Djo – The Crux" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved April 13, 2025.
  30. ^ "Ultratop.be – Djo – The Crux" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved April 13, 2025.
  31. ^ "Djo Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 15, 2025.
  32. ^ "IRMA – Irish Charts (Week 15, 2025)". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved April 12, 2025.
  33. ^ "NZ Top 40 Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. April 11, 2025. Retrieved April 11, 2025.
  34. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 12, 2025.
  35. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 11, 2025.
  36. ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 12, 2025.
  37. ^ "Djo Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved April 15, 2025.
  38. ^ "Djo Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 15, 2025.
  39. ^ "Djo Chart History: Top Rock & Alternative Albums". Billboard. Retrieved April 15, 2025.
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