Get Your Music on Amazon!
Get Your Music - and everything else - on Amazon! All purchases made on Amazon through this link earn a commission for Jesusfreakhideout.com!

JFH Music Review




Mat Kearney
Nothing Left To Lose



Artist Info: Discography
Album length: 13 tracks: 56 minutes, 50 seconds
Street Date: April 18, 2006


Oregon's own Mat Kearney is the latest CCM artist to break into the mainstream market. His flagship release is entitled Nothing Left To Lose, a repackaging of highlights from his Inpop debut Bullet with seven brand new cuts tacked on. Some already-fans of Kearney may wonder why such a project has been pieced together, but the answer is pretty simple. With Nothing Left To Lose serving as an introduction of Kearney to a greater audience, why not share with them the best Bullet had to offer as well?

Nothing Left To Lose opens with the boldly worshipful "Undeniable," one of the six smartly chosen selections from Bullet. The title track follows, a wonderful radio-friendly song that quickly had become a live favorite last Spring. Kearney's blend of Cold Play-esque harmonies with hip-hop driven verses and breakdowns makes for a refreshing listen. The new songs are very much more of the same that Bullet offered, only slightly exploring more melodic and atmospheric arrangements. "Crashing Down" is one of the many beautifully written new tracks, bearing a theme of dependence on love that could apply to a significant other as much as it could the Savior. "Girl America" makes the cut from Bullet as well, and is followed by a slightly retouched rendition of the faith-inspired "In The Middle."

"Can't Break Her Fall" follows much of the same acoustic pop format Kearney has developed as his signature. Those familiar with Bullet can pretty much predict how the song will unfold at this point, but for listeners just getting acquainted with Kearney, it fits like a glove. "What's A Boy To Do" offers the more stripped-down acoustic driven songwriting that Kearney presents live, lyrically pondering the condition of a fatherless child. New track "Wait" precedes the memorable title track from Bullet, before breaking into one of the strongest of the album's new offerings, "All I Need." The emotionally charged piano ballad is a tenderly penned love song that builds to theatrical heights as the song climaxes with an orchestral finish. Bullet's strongest moment, "Renaissance," perfectly follows its worthy successor. From here, the album winds down with the sweetly reserved "Where We Gonna Go From Here" and the closer from the previous record, the Johnny Cash inspired "Won't Back Down."

Nothing Left To Lose takes what was a strong debut and improves on it further. My only complaint is a minor one. The acoustic "Chicago," from last Fall's rare Chicago EP, is distinctly missed here. Otherwise, Nothing Left To Lose is a fantastic collection of pop anthems that appropriately represents what Mat Kearney is all about. While an album of all new material is indeed due since the Fall 2004 release of Kearney's previous record, Nothing Left To Lose will more than do, and is well worth picking up.

- Review date: 4/15/06, written by John DiBiase



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 13!


. Artist Info: Discography
. Record Label: InPop Records
. Album length: 13 tracks, 56 minutes and 50 seconds
. Street Date: April 18, 2006
. Buy It: Amazon.com

  1. Undeniable
  2. Nothing Left To Lose
  3. Crashing Down
  4. Girl America
  5. In The Middle
  6. Can't Break Her Fall
  7. What's A Boy To Do
  8. Wait
  9. Bullet
  10. All I Need
  11. Renaissance
  12. Where We Gonna Go From Here
  13. Won't Back Down
spacer Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics

 

 

go to main Album review page
go to Album review archive

 

 

                 
Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 13!

Search JFH



This Friday, July 25, 2025
ALBUMS
Anchor & Braille New Mexico [Equal Vision]
B. Tee Told You [Syntax]
Bride Scarecrow Messiah CD Re-Release [Girder]
Empowered SALT - EP (independent)
Homesick Prodigals Different Good (independent)
KDNS After Eden [Syntax]
Olivia Lane Songs About Jesus (Deluxe Edition) [BEC]
Tasha Cobbs Leonard TASHA [Motown Gospel]
Kevi Morse Kingston We Winning [Syntax]
Pulpit Vomit Hospital Lens [Rottweiler]
Anthony & Tiffany Salerno Dance for Jesus - EP (independent)
Taylor & Co Worship Breakthrough - EP (independent)
Josh Wright LEAD (independent)

SINGLES
abenezer i was lost - Single [Gotee]
Joe L Barnes Good Shepherd (Studio Version) - Single [Provident]
Sho Baraka Still Got Faith (ft. L3xdivine) - Single [Syntax]
Gracie Binion Easy To Please - Single [BEC]
Katty Camargo Shine Upon Me - Single (independent)
The CCC Collective Thankful - Single (independent)
C4 Crotona Mr. Gritty - Single [Syntax]
CXMMXNS Trust and Obey (feat. CAIN) - Single [Provident]
EJ Swavv & Nickwit2Ks Growth - Single [Syntax]
Forrest Frank GOD'S GOT MY BACK - Single [River House / 10K]
Andrew Gonoude Closer To You - Single (independent)
Noah Paul Harrison Oh Lord My God (Live) - Single [Bethel]
J.Solo All I Have (ft. Kaboose & MotionPlus) - Single [Syntax]
Kings Kaleidoscope + Kings Kaleidoscope Hymns Amazing Grace - Single [BEC]
Tasha Layton Life In Me - Single [BEC]
Lecrae Bless You (feat. Torey D'Shaun) - Single [Reach]
TobyMac God Did It (feat. Jamie MacDonald) - Single [Capitol CMG]
Matt Maher Wait (Radio Version) - Single [Provident]
Hunter Plake Down to Earth - Single [BEC]
QEW JOYXFIX (ft. Stevie Rizo) - Single [Syntax]
Naomi Raine God Will Work It Out - Single [Tribl]
Rave Jesus Runnin' - Single [Provident]
Saints in Exile Bad Vibes - Single [Syntax]
Xander Sallows infinite - Single [DREAM]
Silent Reflection Left Me for Dead - Single [Syntax]
Michael W. Smith Your Love Is A Flood - Single [The Fuel]
John Stratton The Body and the Blood - Single [Pure Mosaic Services]
Regina Vandereijk You're the Light - Single (independent)
Joel Vaughn Feel It - Single [DREAM]
Zach Williams Killed A Man - Single [Provident]
Zauntee Jesus Down In Florida - Single [BEC]

VINYL
Bride Scarecrow Messiah Vinyl [Girder]

DVD
Jordan Smith The People's Hymnal DVD [Gaither]

This Saturday, July 26, 2025
SINGLES
Anthony & Tiffany Salerno What Would You Do? - Single (independent)

Next Friday, August 1, 2025
ALBUMS
Crash Rickshaw Big Sir - EP [Velvet Blue]
McKamey Legacy Holding to Truth [Horizon]
Ordained Thunder Roar [Girder]
V1 Worship Archives [DREAM Worship]

SINGLES
Dan Bremnes Human - Single [Curb]
Lauren Daigle Let It Be A Hallelujah - Single [Centricity]
Sleeping At Last Believe - Single (independent)

VINYL
Disciple Attack! (Limited Run Vinyl) Vinyl [Girder]



For all release dates, click here!
 

Join honey and save on online purchases!
Get all of JFH's indie compilation now totally free!
Check out depositphotos for royalty free images