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!
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!

    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

     

                     
    Get $20 off $50 and up order when you use our link -- and we'll get a discount, too!

    Search JFH



    This Sunday, May 10, 2026
    SINGLES
    JNDJ WOUNDS - Single (independent)

    This Thursday, May 14, 2026
    ALBUMS
    Abandoned Pools Humanistic (Re-Release) [BMG]

    This Friday, May 15, 2026
    ALBUMS
    Dispraised Dispraised [Thumper Punk Records]
    Lamenter Transparency: Part One - EP (independent)
    Brooke Ligertwood EAT [Capitol CMG]

    SINGLES
    99 APEX Jumped - Single [Syntax]
    AustinThaNoble Ray of Sunshine - Single [Syntax]
    LamonTT Blackshire One Job - Single [Syntax]
    ELEOS Leper's Veil - Single [Ocean House]
    The Emerging Sound, People & Songs Feel Your Heartbeat - Single [People & Songs]
    Hiyab Gabriel I Choose You - Single (independent)
    Glasslands Blood in the Water - Single (independent)
    Nathan Oswalt whatever happened to US? - Single (independent)
    Seven Years Yes to Everything You Are - Single (independent)
    Sower Joy - Single (independent)
    Switchfoot Absolution - Single [By Design/BMG]
    Joel Vaughn Over It - Single [Ocean House]

    Next Friday, May 22, 2026
    ALBUMS
    Jason Dunn Formerly Known As... (independent)
    Grand Motel untitled (independent)
    Philippa Hanna Magnificent [Integrity]
    Jenn Johnson Happy [Bethel]
    Under the Myrtles The Curse is Broken - EP (independent)
    Rusty Vining & His Friends Already / Not Yet (independent)

    SINGLES
    Wavorly EXILE - Single (independent)
    Ayiesha Woods No Rock (feat. Mr. Talkbox) - Single (independent)


    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