East Coast singer-songwriter Matt Pond has consistently released new music almost every year since his first LP, “Deer Apartments,” in 1998. Then, his group went by the moniker Matt Pond PA, due to his roots in Philadelphia. But now, for reasons evidenced by the 20 or so names listed under “Former Members,” he has dropped the “PA,” from the band’s name and is kick-starting a fresh, new solo career.

“The Lives Inside The Lines In Your Hand,” compared to past projects, straddles the fence between indie rock and contemporary pop. But does it deliver?

“Love To Get Used,” the album’s crown jewel, features Pond over a bevy of drums and guitars as the groundwork. The song isn’t smart or original and it ultimately relies on some clear pop gimmicks, but it makes Pond out as a lover, not a fighter.

“Starlet” glides onto the scene under the cloak of a harmless guitar strum just before popping into a cascade of piano keys and laid-back bass thumps. Creatively, there isn’t much going on, and the teeter-totter, back-and-forth style is a little lacking in pace as the song progresses, which ultimately hurts the track.

Further, Pond gains some surprising momentum on the title track. “There’s a world inside your palm I’ll never leave/ A whole world/ A whole world,” Pond echoes throughout the album’s longest track. I honestly didn’t think I was going to like this one after the first 30 seconds, but this is a track Pond should have built around if you ask me. I’m feeling this one.

Given what’s been said, this is an indie rock record with pop influences in many respects, which is why I can’t really get behind much of the material. Pop music is already an overly utilized platform as it is, which really doesn’t bode well for “The Lives.” Also, many of the tracks on this LP were also released within the past year, but nevertheless found their way onto the final tracklisting, so there’s that. 

Matt Pond has years of experience under him and could have stretched some creative muscle in more ways that one, but the album really just glides along giving listeners passive relationship advice until, well, the music stops and the album ends.

Ultimately, it’s riskless in the most obvious ways. 

2.5/5 stars