Review Heart- Bad Animals (1987) ***

[Catfish]

Classic Rock Album of the Day- Heart- Bad Animals. (1987) ***

I have wanted to add a Heart LP to review for some time, but the YT/Vevo fascists have prevented its playing in entirety for the ones I felt had the most impact, power, and legacy- Their debut Dream Boat Annie. When these front ladies hit the scene with this album in 1975, they at first glance had what would be considered an effect of obvious schtick at the time. This was a band with two gorgeous women killing it. Yeah, I was enamored too, but once you get the wrapper off the album, you see that there is more to this act than visual beauty.

The Wilson sisters, don't tend to get the props considering that both were true talent. No, Nancy wasn't (isn't) Page or EVH, but I can easily see her in the top 1/3 of all rock guitaritst of the day. When I saw her in concert, her solos were sharp, fast, and very true to studio versions. The other supporting members through their changes have all been a decent supporting cast. And Ann? A voice worthy and sutable for operatic career. Then you also realize..... can anyone name a member of this band, besides the sisters? These were a decent supporting cast that function in anonymity.

It might seem a bit odd to choose and review a latter career CD of a band that was so dominant 10 years earlier. But this particular piece, is so very solid and consistent. Perfect? No. But this is really good example of a comeback effort that honestly did very well on charts and the MTV-isphere. With Heart, you knew you were going to get a listenable album. 5 star stuff? Nope... but good decent rock and roll.

Fun Fact: Heart had 7 multi-platinum LP's/CD's in their career

Track No.
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1. Who Will you Run too- Out of the gate, .... a classic. This is such a fine rock and roll number, on so many levels. A bastion of AOR with enough modern phrasing to give it that fresh '80's feel. This tune does a nice job of channeling that 1970's feel, but also giving it that toying with anything with that kind of sound of the 1980's. 1

2. Alone- This tune, plus the previous album (Heart) "These Dreams," are classics. These are so beloved that they both charted No 1's as singles. These have Ann Wilson at her absolute professional best. Incredible power and range. I think she took these two efforts as a personal challenge, in response to some critics speculating that her weight game was impacting the lungs. Didn't happen, and these at least two in succession can have an argument as some of the greatest rock ballads ever made. 2

3. There's the Girl- Very 80's synthy rock. Not bad, but lower tier. 6

4. I wan't You So Bad- Another ballad, but nothing like Alone.... not even close. 8

5. Wait For an Answer- Got to hand it to the band, to try new and unusual style and material, but this is so off their feel, this doesn't cut it. 9

6. Bad Animals- You usually expect something stronger from your Title Track, pleasant workings, and strange voice like synth that was pretty unusual for the time. But as a track in this regard, not hitting the mark, 5

7. You A'int So Tough- Another oddity for a turn that seems to almost even have a Prince like backing sound. Some of Ann's best improv like voicing over. 3

8. Strangers of the Heart- Another beautiful ballad, though seems a bit more forced, and not as good of augmentation between the voice and instruments. And honestly, if this didn't have Ann Wilson's pipes, I am guessing it would so like any '80's hair band sappy ballad that polluted the airwaves during the day. 7

9. Easy Target- Harkens at least stye wise more to their 1970's stuff. Hooky AOR, but with not as much "Heart". Anyone else get that Foghat-ish "Take to Me the River" musical phrasing? 4

10. RSVP- Pointless. Should have stopped at 9 cuts. This adds nothing to the album. 10

 

[TageRyche]

Howard Leese and Denny Carmassi come to mind as other members.

I like your write-up. I wrote about the album a while ago. You can check out my thoughts HERE!

 

[Catfish]

Good review... I like your thoughts, kind of like mine that Bad Animals seemed like the last death throes of their end of creative excellence. Whether that drop is due some of Nancy's health issues, or whether the creative tap had been spent, I guess is open to debate, and a op-ed of whether the sisters were generous in sharing the spot light .

Congratulations on knowing "non-Wilson" members. I couldn't , and have been listening to to this band since their debut. I still think the population of folks being able to know them is about what I'd guess is 5%.

 

[dr wu]

I like the early lps....gave up on them after Bebe Le Strange....just became tired of what they were doing.
I did look at the band members on that lp as well a s a few after and saw Mark Andes listed on bass....I always liked his band Spirit in the old days ...one of my all time favorite unusual west coast bands.

 

[Magic]

Just an FYI @Catfish you can get Spotify for free and listen to any album you want. Then find individual song video’s on YouTube.

I like the classic “Alone” but my album pick is “Bad Animals”. I appreciate its heaviness.

 

[BobThompson]

I like this record ok, but it's easily the most mellow and poppy album they ever recorded.

Typically Heart albums, even the lesser ones, have kick *ss openers. "Who Will You Run To" is a nice pop rocker, but it pales in comparison to previous openers like "Barracuda", "Heartless", "If Looks Could Kill", "Cook with Fire", "City's Burning", etc.

"Alone" is a classic by any standard, and Ann's voice is at it's peak on this track.

"There's the Girl" and "I Want You So Bad" are generic 80s tunes that could have been recorded by anyone. In my opinion, the video for "There's" is the low point of Heart's MTV output. Seeing Howard Leese and Mark Andes doing poses as if they are playing a Metallica cut for a song where the synths are farther up in the mix than the guitars is wince inducing.

"Wait for an Answer" is a vocal tour de force for Ann. The song itself isn't my favorite, but her performance in the last minute when the key changes come in is absolutely incredible.

"Bad Animals" is, in my opinion, the best song on the album. It's the heaviest by a mile, has a hint of prog with alternating light and dark passages (structured similarly to "Comfortably Numb"), and Ann absolutely tears it to shreds. Howard Leese's guitar work also shreds throughout, especially the outro. The only song on the album with writing credits from all five members of the band

"You Ain't So Tough" and "Strangers of the Heart" are ok, but they are both disposable pop songs that any band could have recorded.

"Easy Target" is a solid rock tune, one of the few on this album written by the Wilson sisters and their collaborator Sue Ennis. It reminds me of "Heartless" with much more glossy production.

"RSVP" is also a solid Wilson/Wilson/Ennis tune. Since it's largely acoustic it's an interesting way to end the album, and it's a great bridge between the then-current direction of the band and their folk rock roots.


My opinion of this album overall is similar to the original poster's -- we both seem to agree that it's a really good but flawed record. Our opinions of the individual songs are quite different, however, and to me that highlights the diverse material on this album -- there is a little something for everyone.

 

[BobThompson]

Just an FYI @Catfish you can get Spotify for free and listen to any album you want. Then find individual song video’s on YouTube.

I like the classic “Alone” but my album pick is “Bad Animals”. I appreciate its heaviness.

I agree wholeheartedly. Best tune on the album.