JUST KIDS

Editors’ Notes In terms of hook-filled hip-hop influenced electro-pop music, Mat Kearney is a natural. For JUST KIDS, he built a portable studio on his bus and cut tracks across America, in Sweden, and in his home studio in Nashville. MDL (Maroon 5, Justin Bieber) assisted with production in spots, as did collaborator Josh Crosby. Kearney uses his spoken-word technique to reveal much about his life growing up, especially on “Heartbreak Dreamer,” the title track, “One Black Sheep,” and the gorgeous “Shasta.” Reliably, he breaks into catchy melodies when it’s time to move on. Guests includes poetry slam champion Anis Mojgani and singer Young Summer.