The Beast Inside

{{Infobox album

| name = The Beast Inside

| cover = The_Beast_Inside.jpg

| alt =

| released = {{start date|1991|4|22|df=y}}{{cite magazine|title=New Releases|magazine=Music Week|page=14|date=20 April 1991}}

| recorded = Ridge Farm Studios, Surrey

| venue =

| studio =

| genre = Indie rock, Madchester

| length = 56:11

| label = Mute

| producer = Chris Nagle

| prev_title = Life

| prev_year = 1990

| next_title = Revenge of the Goldfish

| next_year = 1992

| misc = {{Singles

| name = The Beast Inside

| type = studio

| single1 = Caravan

| single1date = 18 March 1991{{cite magazine|title=New Releases: Singles|magazine=Music Week|page=19|date=16 March 1991}}

| single2 = Please Be Cruel

| single2date = 1991

}}

{{Album ratings

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1Score = {{rating|3|5}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-beast-inside-mw0000263366|title=The Beast Inside - Inspiral Carpets | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic|via=www.allmusic.com}}

|rev2 = The Encyclopedia of Popular Music

|rev2score = {{rating|3|5}}{{cite book |last1=Larkin |first1=Colin |title=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music |date=2006 |publisher=MUZE |volume=4 |page=481}}

|rev3 = Entertainment Weekly

|rev3score = C+{{Cite web|url=https://ew.com/article/1991/05/17/beast-inside/|title=The Beast Inside|website=EW.com}}

|rev4 = MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide

|rev4score = {{rating|2|5}}{{cite book |title=MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide |date=1999 |publisher=Visible Ink Press |page=576}}

|rev5 = The Rolling Stone Album Guide

|rev5score = {{rating|3|5}}{{cite book |title=The Rolling Stone Album Guide |date=1992 |publisher=Random House |page=344}}

|rev6 = Select

|rev6score = 4/5{{cite journal |last1=Griffiths |first1=Nick |title=The Beastly Boys |journal=Select |date=May 1991 |page=70}}

}}

The Beast Inside is the second studio album from British indie rock band Inspiral Carpets.{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/inspiral-carpets-mn0000093566/biography|title=Inspiral Carpets | Biography & History|website=AllMusic}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-06-30-ca-2271-story.html|title=SUMMER ALBUM ROUNDUP : A New Weave From Manchester Lads : *** INSPIRAL CARPETS "The Beast Inside" Mute/Elektra|date=June 30, 1991|website=Los Angeles Times}} It was released on 22 April 1991 on Mute Records.

The album made the Top 10 in the United Kingdom.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7ctjc6UWCm4C&dq=the+beast+inside+inspiral+carpets+1991&pg=PA520|title=The Rough Guide to Rock|first=Peter|last=Buckley|date=October 22, 2003|publisher=Rough Guides|isbn=9781843531050|via=Google Books}}

Critical reception

The Rolling Stone Album Guide called the album "a leap forward," writing that "Sleep Well Tonight" "recalled the Velvets at their most Teutonically romantic." Trouser Press called it "a misbegotten attempt at formula- tinkering that broadens the band’s dynamic net but doesn’t pull anything worthwhile in."{{cite web |title=Inspiral Carpets |url=https://trouserpress.com/reviews/inspiral-carpets/ |website=Trouser Press |accessdate=21 October 2020}} The Los Angeles Times wrote that The Beast Inside "bears plenty of beat-heavy ecstasy, as well as sounds o’ the ‘60s (notably Clint Boon’s swirling organ)." The Chicago Tribune wrote that "few of the tunes are immediate powerhouses, but as the Carpets maintain their garage-rock energy while keeping the soundscapes changing ... they provide their eventual, if minor, rewards."{{Cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1991-09-26-9103130231-story.html|title=Inspiral CarpetsThe Beast Inside (Mute/Elektra) (STAR)(STAR)(STAR)Inspiral Carpets...|first=Mark|last=Caro|website=chicagotribune.com}}

Track listing

= LP: Cow Records / DUNG 14 (UK) =

"Caravan" (4:17)
"Please Be Cruel" (3:38)
"Born Yesterday" (5:23)
"Sleep Well Tonight" (5:10)
"Grip" (3:16)
"Beast Inside" (5:09)
"Niagara" (7:10)
"Mermaid" (4:29)
"Further Away" (13:38)
"Dreams Are All We Have" (4:01)

also released on CD (DUNG 14 CD) and MC (DUNG 14 MC)

Personnel

Clint Boon - organ, backing vocals
Craig Gill - drums
Tom Hingley - lead vocals
Graham Lambert - guitars
Martyn Walsh - bass

Charts

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
scope="col"\| Chart (1991) ! scope="col"\| Peak position
scope="row"\| Australian Albums (ARIA){{cite web\|url=https://www.bubblingdownunder.com/2022/08/week-commencing-12-august-1991.html \| title=Bubbling Down Under Week Commencing 12 August 1991\|access-date=12 August 2022}} \| 157
{{album chart\|UK2\|5\|date=19910428\|rowheader=true\|accessdate=July 10, 2024}}

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

scope="col"| Chart (1991)

! scope="col"| Peak
position

scope="row"| Australian Albums (ARIA){{cite web|url=https://www.bubblingdownunder.com/2022/08/week-commencing-12-august-1991.html | title=Bubbling Down Under Week Commencing 12 August 1991|access-date=12 August 2022}}

| 157

{{album chart|UK2|5|date=19910428|rowheader=true|accessdate=July 10, 2024}}

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
scope="col"\| Chart (2021) ! scope="col"\| Peak position
{{album chart\|Scotland\|76\|date=20211126\|rowheader=true\|accessdate=July 10, 2024}}
{{album chart\|UKIndependent\|37\|date=20211126\|rowheader=true\|accessdate=July 10, 2024}}

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

scope="col"| Chart (2021)

! scope="col"| Peak
position

{{album chart|Scotland|76|date=20211126|rowheader=true|accessdate=July 10, 2024}}

{{album chart|UKIndependent|37|date=20211126|rowheader=true|accessdate=July 10, 2024}}

Certifications

{{certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=album|artist=Inspiral Carpets|title=The Beast Inside|award=Silver|relyear=1991|certyear=1991|id=6593-852-2}}

References

Category:1991 albums

Category:Inspiral Carpets albums

Category:Mute Records albums