Djo – ‘The Crux’ album review: your friend is going to love this
THE SKINNY: Djo’s career trajectory has certainly been interesting, as they have gone from flying under the radar to flying so highly above it that they’re borderline untouchable. Once it came out that Joe Keery of Stranger Things fame was behind the band, it naturally garnered attention from fans of the show. Unlike a lot of other celebrities who make music purely because sound exists, though, Keery had the quality to back it up and has cemented himself a solid name in music as a result.
So, how do you deal with this new notoriety? In trying to answer that question, it feels as though Djo has fallen slightly flat on this new album, The Crux. There is undoubtedly musical talent on display—catchiness and flashes of class abound, but so does uncertainty. The result is that some of the songs on this album are very good and well worth repeat listens. The opener ‘Lonesome Is A State Of Mind’ and other songs like ‘Fly’ and ‘Crux’ are exemplary performances. That being said, they are few and far between.
Bridging the gaps between these glimmers of brilliance are songs that don’t seem to know what realm they exist in. Up-tempo, high-pitched lyrics are the only constant throughout this album, as musical styles and genres are subject to change. The ambition of taking on these different styles is commendable, but the execution of tying them together for a coherent listen is poor. It feels as though the album is trying very hard to find direction as it goes on, and the result is something quite directionless.
I have no doubt that this album will find a place in the hearts of many. Your friend is going to love it. It will be played on the radio, in cars where you’re a passenger, and in coffee shops, but the skip button may well be utilised, too, and it will stay as one of those records that blend seamlessly into the background rather than dominating the musical sphere. It is well worth a listen, but it often lacks bite.
For fans of: Festivals, but only when it’s sunny, Ray-bans, and whatever is top of the Netflix charts.
A concluding comment from your mate who is always stealing the aux: “Oh my god, I have a new album to show you.”
The Crux track by track:
Release: April 4th | Producer: Djo and Adam Thein | Label: AWAL Recordings
‘Lonesome Is A State Of Mind’: Light synth, melodic and easy. It eases us into steady acoustic guitar and pretty vocals. Djo’s indie flare shines through in the first few seconds, and it’s an exciting way to start the album. Percussion gives the song a needed funk. The track is divided into very specific segments, each of which delivers something lovely to listen to. [4/5]
‘Basic Being Basic’: A change of pace from the first song. The synth is heavier, the vocals are stagnant, and the drums are sudden. It has a much stronger electronic style, one that feels a couple of decades too late but still makes for a timeless sound. It’s a good song, but its tone gets dull after a minute or so. [2.5/5]
‘Link’: Pop punk style chord structure meets equally influenced lyrics and lead guitar. It’s upbeat and exciting but also sounds very similar to a lot of other music being made at the minute. The song is also clearly written to be catchy but isn’t as effective as I imagine the band would have hoped. [2/5]
‘Potion’: A very stripped-back song but with funk elements infused. The acoustic runs are meditative, but the lyrics are quick and high-pitched. It’s a nice contradiction and makes for a good listen. When these high-pitched lyrics eventually slow down into something more serene, it has a lovely Beach Boys quality to it. [3.5/5]
‘Delete Ya’: If you imagine someone has never heard an indie pop song but has had it described to them really well, they would wind up writing something like ‘Delete Ya’. It’s all there, but the subject matter feels bland, and the song as a whole lacks depth. It’s not a bad song by any means, but it’s falling flat in multiple departments. [2.5/5]
‘Egg’: A song made up of four different introductions. If it wasn’t intentional, it clearly shows a lack of direction. If it was intentional, it’s brave and borderline genius. You decide. [3/5]
‘Fly’: A blend of acoustic guitar and synth builds a blissful background that this song settles into. Djo, despite making an album of hits and misses, has an undeniable quality when it comes to making incredibly wholesome and oddly nostalgic music. ‘Fly’ is a very good example of this. It sounds like an old videotape of a family holiday, incredibly beautiful and with hints of home. [4.5/5]
‘Charlie’s Garden’: An upbeat and jaunty number. Having these kinds of songs on the album is nice, but they all effectively blend into one. There isn’t much separating the more upbeat numbers on the album, and it means despite the song sounding nice, it’s hard to get excited about them. [2/5]
‘Gap Tooth Smile’: One of the heavier, more rock-infused songs. Starting with lyrics and then having guitar immediately come into effect, it has a slightly improvised feel to it. This is a great quality to have come across in the song; it sounds as if it exists in the heat of a specific moment and is unusually wonderful. [2.5/5]
‘Golden Line’: A ballad in every sense of the word. It will be very romantic if you assign a memory to it. On its own, not so much. [2.5/5]
‘Back On You’: Imagine the intro to Rolling Stone’s ‘You Can’t Always Get What You Want’ but have it lead into an indie rock banger rather than the Stones tune. It’s a great way to start a song and is immediately enticing. This is the kind of track that plays in the background at festivals, a catalyst for good times and fun memories. It’s hard not to smile when listening to a song like this. [4/5]
‘Crux’: We end on the title track. A piano-heavy intro, the kind that Meatloaf would sing over, but instead of an operatic baritone, we are greeted by something more serene and held back. Both hopeful and hopeless feelings are present in this song, a soundtrack to revelations in movies, cinematic in its construction and consumption. A lovely track to name the album off and a song worthy of repeat listens. [4/5]
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