Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AbsolutePunk	90%
Allmusic
Alt Rock Liver
CCM Magazine
Christian Manifesto
Christian Music Zine
Christianity Today
Cross Rhythms
Jesus Freak Hideout
Jesus Freak Hideout (Nathaniel Schexnayder)
Louder Than the Music (Jono Davies)
New Release Tuesday
New Release Tuesday
New Release Tuesday
Rolling Stone

Young Love is the fourth studio album from Nashville singer-songwriter, Mat Kearney. It was released on August 2, 2011, although some who pre-purchased the album through Mat Kearney's site received it as early as July 29. On May 1, 2012, a deluxe edition of the album was released with five bonus songs and a video for "Ships In the Night".

Over the months leading up to this, Kearney released several videos of his studio sessions. These videos revealed that this album features the rap style that could be heard on Nothing Left to Lose but not City of Black and White. Kearney described it as being a "return to innocence." Blinking Lights and Intimate Things was considered as an alternate album title.

The album's first single, "Hey Mama", was released on May 10, 2011 as a digital download. The album's track listing, artwork, and release date were revealed on June 13, 2011.

AbsolutePunk's Craig Manning said of Young Love that it "will reach the same level for me as the other two, but for now, it stands as one of my favorite records in what has been an extraordinarily strong year for music, and a big part of the soundtrack to my summer. If Kearney's next three records are half as good as these three, he'll be one of those guys I follow for a long time. Here's hoping."

Allmusic's Jared Johnson said of Young Love that it "could be considered his arrival record, finding the right flavor of hip-hop, adult alternative, and classic storytelling...comes off much like the opening weeks of a relationship, where moments bounce between earnest and playful, heavy and light, but each ultimately memorable in its own way...a noteworthy release that reveals more layers the longer you listen."

Alt Rock Live's Jonathan Faulkner said that it "may go down in history as being one of his best ever"

CCM Magazine's Matt Conner said' "the one element that separates Mat Kearney from the typical troubadour pack is his affinity for rap, hip-hop, and groove-induced arrangements, which blends tightly with sparse sound and his spiritually-charged songwriting...[and] Young Love [was] (a title inspired by his recent marriage)."

Christian Manifesto's Ryan Spooner said it "is engaging, authentic, accessible and fun. I’m out of touch with what’s on top 40 radio these days, but I’m pretty sure Kearney makes the kind of stuff that belongs there. And unlike a lot of that material, if Kearney’s music came on the dial I’m pretty sure I’d turn it up – whether I had heard it before or not."

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Wikipedia