The Crux is Djo’s third studio album. His first being Twenty Twenty, released in 2019, and second being DECIDE, released in 2022. His newest album, however, has quickly become my favorite out of his work. The songs in this album flow together as you listen from start to finish—creating a relatable story. The lyrics and distinctive sound guide you through the album.
Starting the album, track one: “Lonesome Is A State Of Mind” sets the tone beautifully. It’s not too harsh, but gentle, while also showing the trajectory of where this album is going. As the vocals come in, there is an acoustic guitar playing; these lyrics show vulnerability before cutting to the chorus. While upbeat, the lyrics are still showing this openness and heartbreak. This creates a complex song that you must revisit because of the story’s intriguing buildup—it’s a fun song to sing along to.
Following after, track two: “Basic Being Basic” continues the album, making it two-for-two on being catchy and upbeat. This song reminds me of one of my all-time favorite songs: “Bourgeoisieses” by Conan Gray. Both are very bright and fun to learn the lyrics to, while also being slightly confusing. While it’s unclear what exactly is being said, that itself is all that needs to be said in this song.
Skipping along, track eight: “Charlie’s Garden” starts to reel the album back in, following very happy songs, this one takes a more stern tone. This song is where the big picture starts to be revealed. Throughout the song, it cuts to conversation, creating a more bright and airy tone, while also contradicting itself with the music and lyrics being more serious and important.
The final track, track 12: “Crux” concludes this album flawlessly. This is where the emotional vulnerability peaks in the album. This track has a more somber tone, and the lyrics are really highlighted through the piano in the background. This song builds on itself, ending with the infamous repeating lyrics: “Get Back to your heart // Yeah, but only if you give it back again”. These lines repeat as the song fades out and the album concludes—the curtain closes.
This album is undoubtedly one of my favorites and will be on loop for all of my summer. With this I rate the album—to no surprise—a 10/10.
