Young Love cover

Young Love

Mat Kearney · 2011

39 min · 10 tracks · rock music

A blend of pop-infused rock with introspective lyrics that capture the complexities of love and youth.

Top tracks — play these first

  • →
    Ships in the Night — This track stands out for its poignant exploration of fleeting relationships, combining an upbeat melody with introspective lyrics that resonate deeply.
  • →
    Count On Me — An anthem of friendship and support, this song encapsulates Kearney's knack for blending uplifting themes with memorable choruses.
  • →
    Learning to Love Again — This track showcases Kearney's vulnerability, detailing the challenges of opening up to love after heartbreak, making it relatable and heartfelt.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

50 /100
Foothills
Higher than 23% of albums we've rated

The album blends catchy pop-rock with introspective lyrics but lacks strong cohesion in its pacing.

What we noticed

  • The first half of the album maintains a consistent mid-tempo pace, while the second half introduces slower ballads that create a contrast.
  • Several tracks feature layered vocal harmonies that build on Kearney's lead vocals, enhancing the emotional weight of the lyrics.
Composition 25% of the score
7/10

the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics

Craft 20% of the score
6/10

production, performance, arrangement

Durability 25% of the score
6/10

whether it rewards returning to it

Distinctiveness 18% of the score
6/10

whether it sounds like itself

Sequencing 12% of the score
5/10

running order, pacing, length

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

  • steady mid-tempo reflective moments
  • youthful themes of love
  • uplifting tracks for optimism
  • easy listening for casual vibes
  • narrative flow through relationships

Maybe skip if you

  • seeking intense emotional highs
  • prefer quick, standalone tracks

Where this album fits

In the catalog
Breakthrough — This album solidified Kearney's sound and expanded his commercial success.
Career context
In 2011, Mat Kearney released 'Young Love' as his third studio album, following the commercially successful 'City of Black & White'. At this point in his career, Kearney was solidifying his sound, merging folk-pop melodies with a rock edge while exploring deeper emotional themes in his songwriting.
Stylistic neighbors
Jason Mraz· John Mayer· OneRepublic

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

  • 1 Hey Mama 2:58
  • 2 Ships in the Night 4:16
  • 3 Count On Me 3:06
  • 4 Sooner or Later 3:57
  • 5 Chasing the Light 4:27
  • 6 Learning to Love Again 4:25
  • 7 Down 4:01
  • 8 She Got the Honey 3:15
  • 9 Young Dumb and in Love 3:25
  • 10 Rochester 5:37

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata