Known as the founder of Crack the Sky, John Palumbo tackle’s themes surrounding AI, ICE, and the dire situations unfolding in 2026. His latest album, R U Science?, showcases his signature trademark sarcasm through various story structures that delve into the dystopian world of the United States.
Released under the Iconoclassic label, Palumbo immerses listeners in the deep, dark ocean of our modern reality, and it isn’t a pretty sight. With contributions from Crack the Sky’s Joe Macre on bass and guitarist Bobby Hird, Palumbo establishes himself as both a storyteller and a truth seeker, evident throughout R U Science?
John makes no apologies for the brutal wake-up call regarding the tightrope dangers posed by corporate leaders who exploit people, turning them into little more than slaves for profit. The album’s chilling, slowed-down ambition in the ‘Big House’ has a Crimson-esque quality. Tracks like ‘Another Gong’ offer a glam-rock nod to Marc Bolan and a bluesy shuffle that critiques fast-food culture for the ‘White Man’. This piece evokes the foot-stomping grooves from the Electric Warrior and Fire and Water eras, enhanced by Middle Eastern textures that Palumbo masterfully interweaves.
The electronic core of ‘Vampires’ conjures a romantic horror atmosphere reminiscent of Roy Orbison’s golden years in the 1960s, serving as a tip of the hat to the legendary artist. Meanwhile, ‘Fear is the Power’ features an ominous, mellotron-like arrangement, reminiscent of David Gilmour, that underscores the theme of Big Brother watching us.
‘The Evangelist’ critiques the TV evangelists of the ’80s, revealing their corruption and exploitation of churchgoers. Palumbo dives into new wave/post-rock territory from the late ’70s and early ’80s, delivering a powerful reality check that could send whistleblowers to The New York Times to expose these frauds.
R U Science? Well, it may not be for the faint of heart, but Palumbo, as previously stated, makes no apologies for what he has witnessed, and the dangers that lie ahead not only in 2026 but in the years to come. It’s clear he has more ideas brewing in the late 2020s, because the real game has only just begun.
