You Should've Been Here Yesterday

Album Review

On Subthunk's third full-length, the biggest difference that fans will automatically notice is the presence of vocals. The group has indeed taken the "vocal plunge" on 2005's You Should've Been Here Yesterday, with new recruit/singer Lisa Moore joining mainstays Alex U'Ren and Antony Neely. Take bits of Portishead and Garbage, carefully combine the pieces together in a petri dish, and you'd come close to the 2005 edition of Subthunk. The part U.K., part U.S. group manages to be danceable, quirky, and even eerie at times (which probably explains why Subthunk's music could be heard in the popular TV series Six Feet Under), as evidenced by such standout tracks as the title track, "Who's in Charge?," and the speedy drum'n'bass ditty "When I Get Low I Get High." You Should've Been Here Yesterday is a pretty bold musical step for the Subthunk men and woman, especially when you compare it side by side to their previous output. And you also have to stand up and take notice whenever Devo mastermind Mark Mothersbaugh emerges from the hallowed halls of Mutato Muzika and gives his stamp of approval for a band ("The masses are a*ses who need Subthunk glasses," the spud-meister raves).