Native Sons is the debut album by American band the Long Ryders, released in October 1984 by record label Frontier.

[2][6] Rolling Stone's David Fricke described Native Sons as an album "where Nashville, ’77 London and the mid-Sixties Sunset Strip converge in songs of pioneer aspiration and outlaw bonding.

[10][11] Guitarist Stephen McCarthy told Billboard magazine in 1984 that the Long Ryders didn't set out to capture the Burrito Brothers' sound in the studio, although they certainly respected the band's work.

"[10] In 2019, guitarist Sid Griffin said of Native Sons: "Psychedelia was toned down save the atmospheric "Close to the Light" and country, bluegrass and Sun Records rock and roll was emphasized.

[19] In 2013, Tom Stevens recalled the recording session with Clark: "We all gathered in the control booth with our producer Henry Lewy, listening to Gene sing.

[21][17] Matthew Greenwald wrote that the Long Ryders' performance "sounds not unlike the Flying Burrito Brothers on steroids," adding that "an air of humor in the melody juxtaposes one of the ultimate kiss-off songs of all time, as well as the bitter undercurrent of the lyrics.

"[22] The song features Dave Pearlman, known for his work with Dan Fogelberg, Phil Everly and Hoyt Axton, on steel guitar.

[23] "Fair Game" was written in the style of the Everly Brothers, according to Sid Griffin, and a staple of the Long Ryders' acoustic shows at the time.

[37][38] Described as "a modern American classic" by Melody Maker,[46] Native Sons received strong reviews from critics at the time of release.

It did especially well in the UK where, according to Mark Deming of AllMusic, "the group's take on American musical traditions, mixed with a progressive lyrical viewpoint, clicked with critics.

Al Campbell of AllMusic praised the album, writing that it "established their eclectic mixture of Byrds/Clash/Flying Burrito Brothers' influences ... while turning in an original sound that became the banner for both the paisley underground and cowpunk styles in the mid-'80s."

He concluded that "on Native Sons, the Long Ryders pioneered a musical design that future alternative roots rockers would use as a manual.

"[18] Trouser Press described the album as "a stirring dose of memorable and unpretentious country rock that incorporates Highway 61 Revisited Dylan, paisley pop, Kingston Trio balladry and wild rock'n'roll.

"[44] Rob Hughes, writing for Uncut felt that the album's production was kept "authentically raw" without "any hint of 1980s sweetener", which made the Long Ryders seem "urgent, primal, like a new breed of country-garage band.