Released 40 years ago
These Dreams
Heart · 1986
13 min · 3 tracks · rock music
A soaring blend of soft rock and power balladry that showcases haunting melodies and emotive vocals.
Top tracks — play these first
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These Dreams — The title track stands out as an anthem of yearning, characterized by its ethereal production and Ann Wilson's powerful vocal delivery, encapsulating the album's emotional core.
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If Looks Could Kill (live version) — This live rendition captures the raw energy and vocal prowess of Heart, showcasing their ability to connect with an audience while delivering a strong performance of this fan favorite.
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Shell Shock — With its driving rhythm and poignant lyrics, this track highlights the band's hard rock roots while still aligning with their evolving sound, making it a compelling listen.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The single blends soft rock and power balladry effectively but lacks full cohesion due to the live and contrasting final track.
What we noticed
- The main track features a slow build with layered instrumentation, culminating in a powerful chorus that emphasizes the emotive vocals.
- The live version of 'If Looks Could Kill' showcases a more aggressive guitar sound compared to the studio version, adding dynamic contrast.
- The final track, 'Shell Shock', introduces a darker tone with its minor key and slower tempo, creating a stark shift from the preceding tracks.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Breakthrough — This single marked Heart's successful shift to a mainstream sound and topped the charts.
- Themes
- mid-80s pop rock· power ballad intensity
- Career context
- When 'These Dreams' was released in January 1986, Heart was at a pivotal point in their career, transitioning from hard rock roots to a more mainstream sound. This album marked their first release after the commercial success of 'Heart' in 1985, solidifying their status in the pop-rock landscape of the mid-80s.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Pat Benatar· Fleetwood Mac· Linda Ronstadt
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 These Dreams 4:12
- 2 If Looks Could Kill (live version) 5:08
- 3 Shell Shock 3:42
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
Seven the Hard Way
Pat Benatar
Shares the same powerful vocals and emotive rock ballads from the mid-80s pop rock scene.
The Seventh One
Toto
Combines polished production and melodic hooks, echoing the mainstream sound of mid-80s rock.
Slippery When Wet
Bon Jovi
Similar anthemic choruses and emotional intensity that define the era's radio-friendly rock.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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