Heart
– Bad Animals
By 1987, Heart had fully embraced their second act—a slick, power-ballad-driven reinvention that turned them from 70s rock darlings into 80s hitmakers. Bad Animals is the sound of that transformation at full throttle, a record that trades in raw, Led Zeppelin-worshipping grit for polished, arena-sized emotion. It’s packed with soaring vocals, glossy production, and enough dramatic flourishes to fill a stadium twice over. Some fans missed the rough edges, but the numbers don’t lie—this album was a massive success, proving Ann and Nancy Wilson could rule the decade on their own terms.
Best of…
At its core, Bad Animals is all about Heart’s secret weapon: Ann Wilson’s powerhouse vocals. Whether she’s belting out the passion-drenched chorus of Alone or adding a sultry touch to Who Will You Run To, her voice is a force of nature, full of longing and fire. The album leans into the era’s production trends—big synthesizers, reverb-heavy drums, and glossy guitar work—but never loses the emotional weight at the center of these songs. And while the rock edge isn’t as sharp as it once was, the band compensates with sheer conviction, making even the most radio-friendly moments hit with real feeling.
There’s a theatricality to Bad Animals that makes it impossible to ignore. The dramatic swells, the emotional crescendos, the way every song feels like it was designed to be played under the glow of a thousand lighters—this is Heart fully leaning into their 80s identity. Some tracks lean a little too deep into the decade’s excesses, but at its best, this album captures what made Heart’s second wave so irresistible. It’s high drama, high volume, and utterly unapologetic in its grandeur.
Choice Tracks
Alone
The defining power ballad of the 80s. Ann Wilson’s vocals start as a whisper, then explode into sheer heartbreak, making every chorus feel like a life-or-death moment.
Who Will You Run To
Nancy Wilson’s guitar punches through a wall of synths, but this one is all about Ann’s vocal firepower. A classic example of 80s rock radio perfection.
There’s the Girl
A rare moment where Nancy takes the vocal lead, this track blends a sleek, radio-friendly groove with just enough edge to keep it interesting.
Bad Animals
The title track is the closest thing to Heart’s earlier hard rock sound. Darker, moodier, and pulsing with an undercurrent of menace.
You Ain’t So Tough
Underrated and full of attitude, this track rides on a steady groove and a defiant vocal delivery that gives the album some much-needed grit.
Bad Animals may not have the raw rock-and-roll bite of Dreamboat Annie or Little Queen, but it delivers exactly what 80s Heart aimed for—huge, dramatic songs built for massive audiences. It’s a record that thrives on its own bombast, and whether you love it or miss their wilder days, there’s no denying its impact. Heart didn’t just survive the decade’s trends—they owned them.