Jesusfreakhideout.com celebrates 30 Years online in 2026... Get Your Music - and everything else - on Amazon! All purchases made on Amazon through this link earn a commission for Jesusfreakhideout.com!
Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation August 13, 2026!

    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




       go to main page

     

                     
    Listen to the new album from ENOK

    Search JFH



    This Friday, August 28
    ALBUMS
    Anthem Edition Something's Goin' On - EP [Sonlite]
    Bill B. Niche [Syntax]
    DOE Shiloh [Provident/Sony]
    Every Moment Holy: Prayer Songs, 2026 Q3 Anchoring the Heart in Hope (independent)
    Noah Paul Harrison Do Not Go Gentle (Live) [Bethel]
    I.A.N. I AM NEW [Syntax]
    Prevailer Convalescent [Rottweiler]
    John Van Deusen As Long As I Am in the Tent of This Body I Will Make A Joyful Noise Pt. 2 [Anotherland Records]

    SINGLES
    Elan Brio Made For More - Single [Polished Arrow]
    Tim Hughes Make A Way (Live) - Single [Integrity]
    Katy Weirich & Jake MacAdam Holy Ground - Single (independent)
    Tae Lamar So Alive - Single [Polished Arrow]
    John Long Trust In Him - Single (independent)
    Adam Michael Pass the Parcel - Single (independent)
    m1L, MotionPlus, Alias Molombo Made For More - Single [Polished Arrow]
    Mountain People Worship No Lover Like Jesus - Single (independent)
    Lexly Nirvana True Story (ft. VerbPro 12:4) - Single [Syntax]
    John Pape The Road - Single (independent)
    Leslie Perez Waiting For - Single [Gotee]
    Matthew Plante KEEP FOCUS! - Single [Dream]
    Simply Worship & Sam Daniel Lamb of God - Single (independent)
    Ryan Stevenson Eye of the Storm (Anniversary Edition) - Single [Gotee]

    Next Wednesday, September 2
    SINGLES
    Alex Henry Foster Siren's Call - Single [Hopeful Tragedy]

    Next Friday, September 4
    ALBUMS
    Zahna Break or Breakthrough [XOVR]

    SINGLES
    Beach Chapel Cardiff - Single (independent)
    Chandler Letner At a Bar - Single [Dream]
    Matthew Plante FAVOUR! - Single [Dream]
    Jon Reddick Tell Somebody - Single [Gotee]
    Magdalene Rose Do You Want to Be Free? - Single [RockFest]
    V1 Worship Still Worthy - Single [Dream]


    For all release dates, click here!
     

    Purchase Original Art Prints, Drawings, Stickers, Bookmarks and more from JFH's own John DiBiase!
    Need proofreading and editing help? We've got you covered! Click here to learn more
    Check out depositphotos for royalty free images