Brian Fallon returns to his solo career with Not Bad For New Jersey, his first album of original material in more than five years and a record that finds the Gaslight Anthem frontman reconnecting with the big guitars, huge hooks and open-hearted songwriting that have defined much of his career.

Produced by longtime collaborator Butch Walker at his studio outside Nashville, Not Bad For New Jersey leans into a collision of power pop and heartland rock, with Fallon describing the sessions as fueled by a sense of “childlike joy.” Rather than holding anything back, he approached the songs with the idea of embracing the passion and occasional lunacy of the music that first inspired him.

The title track is both a salute to Fallon’s home state and a look back at the unlikely road that brought him this far. He describes the song as taking stock of his life and wondering how he managed to make it through everything intact. “Better Before,” co-written with Canadian singer-songwriter Donovan Woods, turns toward a relationship coming apart, while “Pearls” tackles privilege, perseverance and the difficult process of recognizing your own worth.

Fallon also brings some impressive friends along for the ride. The album includes guest appearances from the Killers’ Brandon Flowers, Def Leppard guitarist Phil Collen, guitarist Marc Ribot and acclaimed songwriter Lori McKenna, adding some unexpected voices and textures without pulling the focus away from Fallon’s unmistakable songwriting.

Backed once again by the Painkillers, Fallon sounds energized by returning to his own material after several years focused largely on the Gaslight Anthem. Not Bad For New Jersey carries plenty of the bruised romanticism longtime fans expect, but there’s also a celebratory streak running through it. After nearly three decades of songs about love, disappointment, survival and trying to figure out where you belong, Fallon seems pretty happy to still be standing.