Djo drops surprise deluxe version of ‘The Crux’
The musician drops 12 new songs.
Photo: Neil Krug
“Hey, it’s been too long,” is the opening lyric to the new deluxe record by Stranger Things star Joe Keery as he returns to music under the alias Djo. Although having only released the album five months ago back in April, fans have been desperate for more new music following his sold-out world tour with Post Animal.
The Crux was Keery’s 3rd studio album, continuing from the success of DECIDE, his 2022 album, which carries the social media hit End of Beginning that has amassed Djo over one billion streams since its sudden virality in 2024.
Singles from his recent album, Basic Being Basic and Delete Ya, have combined streams of over 60 million on Spotify alone, so it is safe to say there is no slowing down for Keery. Having released three singles this week, It’s Over, Carry The Name, and Awake are songs four, five and twelve from this twelve-song deluxe record. Fans can expect the album to feel like a continuation of The Crux’s storyline with a more sombre underlying feeling to the record.
Keen fans will draw similarities throughout the record to Egg and Charlie’s Garden, especially in the single Carry The Name. The indie/alternative genre has allowed fan reception to support the new album, but can UK fans expect to see Djo on the road this Autumn and winter season? Realistically not, since Joe is representing his role as Steve Harrington in Stranger Things’ final season, releasing in November and December of this year. Who is to say he won’t be returning in 2026? He is, however, putting on a limited number of US shows, starting from September 24th in Rochester, New York, to October 17th in Sacramento, California.
Demand for the Back On You World Tour was huge, selling out venues in minutes after tickets went on sale. Venues, including Manchester, were upgraded from 2500 capacity at The Academy 1 to The Victoria Warehouse, holding an extra 1000 people.
The Crux spotlighted Djo’s inspiration from other musical acts, including The Beatles and Tame Impala and this admiration for the acts only continues deeper with the deluxe record. Having worked with Tame Impala in his recent music video for new single Loser, Joe Keery is a clear fan of Kevin Parker and his lyrical ability, and clearly takes inspiration from his peer.
The deluxe record further highlights Djo’s keen and incredible songwriting ability. From making catchy earworms to insightful storytelling in less than three minutes. The album feels incredibly personal to listen to, with Djo giving us a glimpse into his often unspoken personal life.
He is not explicit with his lyrics, instead targeting lines throughout the record as if talking to a close friend or an old relationship that knows the context of his stories. This is most evidently shown in track two, Love Can’t Break The Spell, with the lyrics, “I’m mad that you could live, and love me like you did / Take what I could give just to keep our secret hid,” and, as the album progresses, seems to be going through the stages of grief with this relationship.
The whole record not only helps Djo and the audience say goodbye to The Crux era, but also helps Joe Keery put a relationship behind him. The album follows him coming to terms without a partner, and we feel Keery’s independence and confidence grow as the record swells to an end with the final track Awake.
This song ends the album on a similar note to the original The Crux record, with the final minute ending the collection of music on a high and confident note. I highly recommend listening to this album in the original set list order, as the world and story that Djo is masterfully writing about is built carefully and grows around you as the album progresses.
The Crux Deluxe is out now via AWAL.