Native Place | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Studio album by | ||||
Released | 1990 | |||
Studio | Townhouse, Battery (London) | |||
Label | Virgin[1] | |||
Producer | Steve Lovell, Steve Power | |||
The Railway Children chronology | ||||
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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]
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]
All tracks are written by Gary Newby
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Every Beat of the Heart" | 4:08 |
2. | "Music Stop" | 4:00 |
3. | "You're Young" | 4:32 |
4. | "Because" | 4:45 |
5. | "Cotton Counting" | 1:59 |
6. | "It's Heaven" | 3:34 |
7. | "Something So Good" | 4:14 |
8. | "Collide" | 4:16 |
9. | "Native Place" | 3:53 |
10. | "Fall On" | 1:27 |
11. | "Harbour Force" | 3:58 |
12. | "Blue Sky" | 4:06 |
with: