Mat Kearney's music has seen a lot of exposure in the mainstream over the years, with songs making appearances on multiple soundtracks and in episodes of various television shows. And in 2015, he might just continue this trend with his fifth studio album, Just Kids. Simply put, this is one of his finest albums to date. The overarching theme is one of reflection on the past, as not only the lyrics talk a lot about his roots as an outsider and how his career got started, but he also does a bit of throwback to the sounds of his debut album, Bullet. I've always enjoyed hearing Kearney's pop-fueled rapping, and it sounds as good here as it ever has. Just Kids does have some slow moments here and there, but overall, I don't ever really find myself skipping over any tracks; it's a solid listen from start to finish, through the serious and heartbreaking songs, like "Ghost" and "The Conversation," to the fun and poppy songs, like "Billion" and - a personal favorite of mine - "Heartbeat," which reminds me of Phil Collins. Any fans of Mat Kearney's previous records will not want to miss out on this one. If you like good pop music, you'd do well to pick this up; make sure you're able to get your hands on the bonus track "The Air I Breathe," as it's one of the strongest tracks of the bunch. - 2/7/15, Scott Fryberger of Jesusfreakhideout.com


Delivering an alternative sound entwined with hints of folk music and hip hop, Mat Kearney has a certain appeal that most either love or hate. I can appreciate anyone who is trying to make a sound that's completely unique and unable to be compared with others, so I am digging what Mat has been doing for that last decade or so. Songs on his newest release, Just Kids, that definitely need to be added to your playlists are "Heartbreak Dreamers," "Just Kids," and "Los Angeles," all stellar tracks offering hints of soul music and personal experience. Sure, not everything here is good - most albums fall short of perfect - but If you like Mat's old stuff, you'll be into this one too. - 2/1/15, Kevin Hoskins of Jesusfreakhideout.com


Just Kids is what happens when pop and hip hop converge with the singer-songwriter in a beautiful collision. It has been a very long time (or at least it feels like a long time) since I have run across an album that was as simultaneously catchy and intimate as Mat Kearney's long-awaited follow-up to Young Love. Starting off with the captivating "Heartbreak Dreamers," Kearney puts on full display his penchant for hiding meaningful lyrics in plain sight under some delicious beats. This trend continues with "Moving On" and the title track, before two of Kearney's most fun and memorable songs, the love anthems "Heartbeat" and "Billion," steal the show. The album puts up a very good fight to maintain the momentum it's built up to this point, but while the song quality remains high (particularly "One Black Sheep," "Miss You," and the haunting "The Conversation"), it struggles to push through to the end while maintaining the listener's full attention. That lagging is the only real downfall in what is otherwise Kearney's most intimate and rewarding album yet. - 3/2/15, Mark Rice of Jesusfreakhideout.com