| Native Place | |
| Type: | studio |
| Artist: | the Railway Children |
| Cover: | Native Place.jpg |
| Released: | 1990 |
| Studio: | Townhouse, Battery (London) |
| Label: | Virgin[1] |
| Producer: | Steve Lovell, Steve Power |
| Prev Title: | Recurrence |
| Prev Year: | 1988 |
| Next Title: | Radio One Evening Sessions |
| Next Year: | 1993 |
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 Billboards 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.
Trouser Press wrote: "No longer an unassuming pop group, the Railway Children are growing into dance-oriented chart hacks."[10] The Washington Post opined that "Native Place is not brave or powerful or important, but it's seriously listenable."[11]
The Daily Breeze determined that the album "leans more toward guitar-oriented pop, boasting strong melodies, airy textures and a sunny optimism."[12] 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."[13]
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." 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]
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