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From The Desk Of Matt Pond: Austin

It wasn’t a near-death experience, but it was enough to compel Matt Pond to hit the reset button. The newly emancipated, New Hampshire-bred frontguy for the ever-morphing outfit Matt Pond PA broke his leg on tour in 2011. Shaken by the freak occurrence and the ensuing surgery, Pond finished out the tour sitting down, then headed to St. Augustine, Fla., to convalesce with friends. Once there, he quickly took to the funky, historic northeast Florida town’s laid-back lifestyle and Southern lilt. A rejuvenated sheen permeates The Lives Inside The Lines Of Your Hands (BMG)—especially the new album’s ebullient first half. It isn’t so much that Pond has abandoned the autumnal, inward-delving perspective that pervaded 2010’s The Dark Leaves, or his long-established penchant for overt melancholy. But he has given both a thorough airing out with a blast of smog-free, temperate air. Pond will be guest editing magnetmagazine.com all week. Read our brand new feature on him.

austin

Pond: I’ve had an on-and-off love affair with Austin, Texas, for most of my life. The sideways sunlight, the endless afternoons. It would be so easy to dive in and never return from the umber magic. They have the basics covered with Alamo Drafthouse, Book People and Waterloo Records. At the other end of the spectrum, they have jalapeno margaritas and Barbarella. I’ve spent most of my days swaying between the poles, semi-smart and mostly mindless.

Andrew Kenny lives in Austin as well. Music is not always favorable for friendships. If he were to happen to read this, I would like him to know that I still believe he’s written some of my favorite jams of all time. Please cue “The Only One” by the American Analog Set.

Video after the jump.