Native Place
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| Native Place | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1990 | |||
| Studio | Townhouse, Battery (London) | |||
| Label | Virgin[1] | |||
| Producer | Steve Lovell, Steve Power | |||
| The Railway Children chronology | ||||
| ||||
Native Place is an album by the English band the Railway Children, released in 1990.[2][3] The band broke up after the album's release, in part due to EMI's acquisition of Virgin Records.[4]
The album peaked at No. 59 on the UK Albums Chart.[5] "Every Beat of the Heart" peaked at No. 1 on Billboard's Modern Rock Tracks chart.[6] The band promoted the album by touring with the Heart Throbs.[7][8]
The album was produced by Steve Lovell and Steve Power.[9] It was recorded over a period of four months, to the annoyance of chief songwriter Gary Newby.[10]
Critical reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    [11] |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [12] |
| Select | [13] |
Trouser Press wrote: "No longer an unassuming pop group, the Railway Children are growing into dance-oriented chart hacks."[14] The Washington Post opined that "Native Place is not brave or powerful or important, but it's seriously listenable."[15]
The Daily Breeze determined that the album "leans more toward guitar-oriented pop, boasting strong melodies, airy textures and a sunny optimism."[10] The Dayton Daily News stated that "the group's sound recalls the jangling guitars of the Byrds combined with a sweeping keyboard sound from the early '80s."[16]
AllMusic wrote that "the slick production and sunny synths couldn't leech the buoyancy and emotional impact from the poetic, romantic songwriting and warm harmonies of Gary Newby."[11] MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide deemed Native Place "one of the definitive pop albums of the early '90s ... Newby's gentle vocals are flawless."[9]