Folks, the new Mat Kearney album came out this week (on Theo’s first birthday, what a sign!) and it’s really speaking to my soul.

When I was in college, I was in love with Mat Kearney. His album that came out in 2006 was my life album. The summer I came back from studying aboard my mom took me to Borders (RIP) in Ann Arbor to see him live and get my CD signed.

When I get my named signed on things (which I guess doesn’t happen as much anymore) I always tell people “Jen” because a) that is what my family calls me and b) I hate being like, “It’s Jennie. With an I-E.” So when Mat Kearney asked me what my name was I said, “Jen.”

He wrote “Jenn.” I still have that CD. I strongly considered changing the way I spell my name. (I didn’t.)

I love him and his music, and I am so, so happy that another album is finally here. It’s been a while, Mat.

Onto “Just Kids.”

First of all, the first song includes an excerpt from the above spoken word piece, which just is amazing.

This is one of my favorite parts:

This is for the benches and the people sitting upon them
For the bus drivers who drive a million broken hymns
For the men who have to hold down three jobs simply to hold up their children
For the nighttime schoolers
And for the midnight bikers who are trying to fly
Shake the dust

Second of all, Moving On, Heartbeat, Ghost, Los Angeles…they all are just beyond.

I suggest you take a listen on Spotify today. I’ve made a playlist of my fave Mat Kearney songs from over the years, in case you live under a rock and you don’t know who he is. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.