When Matchbox Twenty returned to the studio to record its first studio album in 11 years, lead singer Rob Thomas and his band mates had a few stipulations.

We didnt want to make a record about all the negative sides of the past few years, especially when theres been so much positive thats been going on, Thomas told HuffPost. We didnt want to talk about the isolation. We didnt want to talk about the division. We didnt want to talk about rage.

He went on to note: Theres so much joy and so much looking to the future thats happening right now as we speak. So we started gravitating toward songs that were about that. Thats the record we wanted to make.

Released last week, Where the Light Goes finds Thomas, guitarist Kyle Cook, drummer and rhythm guitarist Paul Doucette and bassist Brian Yale in both reflective and celebratory mode. The result is a thoughtful collection of songs that doesnt dwell on sonic nostalgia but will nonetheless thrill the bands longtime fans.