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    For our 9th annual Highlighting feature, we split the year into TWO pieces -- January to June and July to December. Each list contains 15 artists/releases for a total of 30 in total for 2015. So, without further ado, we give you Highlighting First-Half 2015!



  2 of 15  



Album Cover
#2. Mat Kearney
JUST KIDS

Release Date: February 24, 2015
One of the unlikeliest of musical conglomerations, the singer-songwriter/pop/folk/rap artist has transcended the messy mix of genres he has been exploring with great success since his major label debut, Nothing Left To Lose, thanks in no small part to his mastery of channelling a vocal and lyrical combination of understated emotion. Just Kids begs to be his most vulnerable album yet.
        - Mark Rice

It's hard to stand out as a singer-songwriter in Nashville, but Mat Kearney does just that. He's always had his own style, and it's won fans over for years. There's no reason to suspect that Just Kids will be any different.
        - John "Flip" Choquette

Okay, I didn't vote for Mat Kearney either. I like his music, but I wasn't genuinely excited about JUST KIDS. Now that I've gotten a copy to review, I really wish I DID vote for it. This album is great. I'll probably jam "Heartbeat" for a good portion of the year.
        - Scott Fryberger

"Hey Mama" was my wife and daughter's favorite song in 2011, and Young Love took up a near-permanent residence in our mini-van's CD player. We're counting down the days till Just Kids, and I can't wait to take another road trip this summer with the album's lead single "Heartbeat" shaking the cups out of the cup holders.
        - Alex "Tincan" Caldwell

After following Mat Kearney's career over the years, one thing is for sure: he's certainly never boring, as Kearney seems to swing effortlessly among genres, meshing thoughtful songwriting with catchy pop sounds and smart hip-hop delivery. It's been almost four years since Young Love (THE summer album of 2011 for me). I am ready to hear what's coming with Just Kids.
        - Jen Rose Yokel

Kearney's ability to craft a song has grown through his career, and he remains a unique voice. His autobiographical songs are among his best, and Just Kids features some gems in that category. His hooks stay in your ears for days, and that's a good thing.
        - Mark D. Geil

From what I've heard of JUST KIDS, Mat Kearney is attempting to meld both his hip hop and pop tendencies into one uniform sound (not unlike "Ships in the Night" from Young Love). I'll be interested to see the long-term impact of this release as the year progresses, but for now, tracks like the thoughtful "Heartbreak Dreamer" and the '80's-inspired "Heartbeat" are solid entries in Kearney's catalog.
        - Roger Gelwicks

  • Visit our Mat Kearney page for more information about them...

  • 2015 Countdown:

    15 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1
    Highlighting 2015
    ©January 2015 Jesusfreakhideout.com




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    This Tuesday, October 20
    SINGLES
    Philip Anthony Mud - Single (independent)

    This Thursday, October 22
    SINGLES
    NEEDTOBREATHE Never Gonna Deserve Ya (feat. Evan Honer) - Single [UMG]

    This Friday, October 23
    ALBUMS
    Bleach The Fox Den Sessions Vol. 1 [Residence Music]
    Ernie Haase & Signature Sound Miami Live [StowTown]
    Alex Henry Foster The Fragile Beauty (Of New Morning Hopes) [Hopeful Tragedy]
    Future of Forestry Sojourner (independent)
    Galactic Cowboys What Planet Are You From? (independent)
    JJ Hairston Anthems & Prayers (Live) [James Town]
    m1L The Prelude EP [Polished Arrow]
    Myles Maestro IDENTITY CRISIS [Syntax]
    Melanie Penn Immanuel - The Acoustic Sessions (Deluxe) (independent)
    Procyse I’ve Never Been Here Before [Polished Arrow]
    QEW & Cyrus Sonata Chamber Saga EP [Syntax]
    Josiah Queen Damascus Road [Capitol CMG]
    The Sean Coleman Project Apropos of Nothing (independent)
    Sidewalk Prophets Great Big Family Christmas (Live) [Curb]
    We The Kingdom Soon The Streets Of Gold [Capitol CMG]
    Devin Williams Conquer the World (Live) (independent)

    SINGLES
    Dave Barnes Christmastime - Single (independent)
    Biscuits x albion. dawn - Single (independent)
    Mark Bishop Unpack That Suitcase - Single [Sonlite]
    Blanca Joyful, Joyful (We Singin' Out) - Single [Curb]
    Elan Brio Airplanes - Single [Polished Arrow]
    Chris Caro Hannah's Song - Single [Syntax]
    Jordan Colle Worthy Of All Of It - Single [Bethel]
    Matt Cooper Wonder - Single [QHMG / Quartz Hill Records]
    ELEVATION LIVING ROOM BULLS & GOATS - Single [Elevation]
    Hillside Recording & Addy Prado Joyful Joyful - Single (independent)
    Keep Warm Like You (feat. Relient K) - Single [Real Fun]
    Lakelin Lemmings I Ain't For Everybody (Piano) - Single [QHMG / Quartz Hill Records]
    LOUDWERX Bass Go Boom (feat. Magic & Bird, Andy Mineo) - Single [Artist Influence]
    Mountains in the Sea My Burden Is Light - Single [Dream]
    Naveszn Meadow - Single [Syntax]
    No Vain Glory MOVE YOUR BODY (PT2) - Single [Syntax]
    Jordan Rowe If Jesus Lived In My Hometown - Single [Tape Room / Capitol CMG]
    Saints in Exile Haunted Nobody - Single [Syntax]
    Skema Boy Worthy - Single [Provident]
    Tommis & Company Your Name Is Jesus (Acoustic) - Single (independent)

    Next Friday, October 30
    ALBUMS
    Beach Chapel A Special Place In Heaven (independent)
    Kirk Franklin I Am What I Am [Uptown]
    The Oak Ridge Boys Buried Treasures [Lightning Rod]
    The Hyssongs We've Got a Song to Sing [Horizon]
    Various Artists Songs Inspired By The Chosen: Season 1-5 [Capitol CMG]
    Vomitorial Corpulence Martyrdomical Symphonanthem [Rottweiler]

    SINGLES
    Gracie Binion & Mitch Wong Gloria - Single [BEC]
    Will Ellis My Yesterday’s Are Gone - Single (independent)
    Leem of the Earth The Cavern of Dark - Single [Velvet Blue]
    Hunter Plake It's Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas - Single [BEC]
    Jordan St. Cyr Guide Me Home - Single [BEC]
    TobyMac The Hard Times - Single [Capitol CMG]
    ZOEgirl I Still Believe - Single (independent)


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