Local Album Review // Less Than Expected // Time Enough at Last
5/5 stars
Less Than Expected — an Ashtabula-based five-piece formed in 2018 and composed of Martin Dunn, Dan Sebastian, Matthew Morton, Hunter Eager, and Joe Greenfield — far exceed the modest implications of their band name. Their newest album Time Enough at Last, appropriately named after an episode of The Twilight Zone is not just a fantastic sludge-punk earworm, but a carefully curated piece of art that takes you back in history, huddled around the family room, channel flipping on an old-timey radio. Each piece is a perfect mix of grunge and old-school punk rock showcasing the high energy and emotion of Dunn's vocals, quick-but-thoughtful riffs, fast-paced percussion, and an undeniable knack for melodicism. Vibes similar to Nirvana and The Melvins bring a nostalgia that is difficult to find in modern groups, harkening back to those '90s JNCO jeans you packed away for safekeeping. Some prominent tracks include "Indolence," released early as a single, the sludgy "Eternal Sunshine," the hasty punk of "Erotomania," and the heavy-hitting "Plot Device." Closing track "Tuning-Out" also features channel flipping sound clips from other regional bands like Drain Outs, Odd Atrocity, Alex Leniz, Kimota Bombs, and Varmints. Time Enough at Last hit all platforms on Oct. 27 and was celebrated with an album release show at The Wickyards in Youngstown, Ohio.
