I really didn't expect Kingsbury to be any good. They boast a seemingly pointless website, a one-sheet that I can only assume wasn't proofread, and (most damning of all to me before I had the courage to listen to them) a member of the now defunct Venusian Skylines. But apparently Bruce Reed was the half of VS that didn't suck, because Kingsbury is pretty impressive. His singing is hoarse and lazy, but this is more advantageous than not. He is also backed by a complete band that fills out his vision and gives it the substance that VS fell just short of. Kingsbury has its flaws, but I think they'll iron them out in time. Meanwhile, they've got some affecting ballads to build on. 6/10 -- Eden Hemming Rose (11 June, 2005)