Boston, MA was certainly a hotbed for guitar driven post-punk. Naturally, bands like Pixies, The Lemonheads, and Mission of Burma get the lion’s share of the attention, but in those early days, Native Tongue was heavily active and well known in their hometown scene, especially for self-coining what is known as the “Revere Beach” sound, which features double layered vocals and jagged post-punk rhythms. This three piece recorded several demos, one EP, and one LP before calling it quits, also contributing a Christmas tune to a local scene compilation that also features Jeff and Jane Hudson and a few demo recordings to a 2007 Boston-based compilation. The band would reissue most of their catalogue in 2008, but the compilation is only on vinyl as well.
Currently, both Lee Leffler and Michael Frackleton are active in psychedelic post-punk band Dream of a Man in a Top Hat. You can read an interview with them both here and check out some of their newer material. They also share some stories about recording the Native Tongue material, which is a great read.
Some touchstones for Native Tongue include Gang of Four, early Public Image Ltd. and Wire, and For Against’s more driving material. Very jagged and angular guitars, powerful vocals, big hooks, and the kind of fast paced energy that really captures my attention around this time period. While rips of their material have been floating around for a bit, here’s a couple of fresh passes on both their 1981 EP and 1983 album. As a bonus, I’ve included their 1983 Christmas cover – never too late for a little cheer I suppose?
Hope y’all enjoy!
Native Tongue – Native Tongue 12” (1981)
1. Speaking In Captions
2. All Wronged Up
3. No Sense
4. Carving The Future From Soap
Native Tongue – YOWL LP (1983)
1. Hoodwinked
2. Blame It On Gravity
3. Pencil Point
4. Ali
5. Thieves At Night
6. No Bush Beat
7. Bit Part
8. Do I Bother You?
9. Fluffy Thing
10. The Cake
Various – A Boston Rock Christmas (1983)
2. Native Tongue – Do You Hear What I Hear?
