REO Speedwagon Album: “Nine Lives”

If there was a tie breaker for best REO album, it would be between the Tuna Fish album and the Nine Lives album. And Nine Lives is the winner. Both rock harder and more consistently than their other releases. Perhaps the sound a little cleaner here, Gary's work really shines. And Bruce contributes a scorching Back on the Road again. Of course Hi Infidelity, Good Trouble, Wheels Are Turnin', Life as We Know It, are all brilliant Pop/Rock albums, but the fifth star goes to Nine Lives. It seems that in terms of creating great REO Speedwagon music, it is the combination of Gary, Kevin, Neal, Bruce and Alan. Anything else, there seems to be much lacking. It was great while it lasted.

I love this album--this is a great album to get if you like heavy rock. I love to crank this cd (I have upgraded from the album) in my car-- even though my kids think I am a dork-- still great listening after all these years.

For all of you that remember going to outdoor concerts, or cranking up great rock....this is the cd for you. I got to see REO, Sammy Hagar, Cheap Trick, Blackfoot up in Boulder one year, man that was the best. Ya gotta get this one!

A real rocker for Speedwagon, nothing but straight ahead rock and roll. On their ninth album, the group puts out their hardest rocker to date. Before they became tied down with sugar coated slow songs, and syrupy production to go along with it(not that there is nothing wrong with that).

Back on the Road Again is the stand out on this cd, written and sung by newcomer bassist Bruce Hall, this would be his best song for the group. Only the Strong Survive and Meet Me on the Mountain, are also great songs. Rest of the cd is good, group sounds like they are having fun on this one. Rock and Roll Music is weak, dosn't really fit into rest of the songs.

Production is stong and gives the songs a raw feel to them. A good buy over all.

I think "Hi Infidelity" is a great record but "Nine Lives" for me was their peak. With the exception 'I need you tonight" this album rocks hard! Right off the bat "Heavy on your love" unleashes a great riff by the criminally underrated Gary Richrath. Kevin's voice sounds tougher then it usually does. And the rest of the band is bursting with energy as if they had something to prove. And they did. Blazing to the next rocker "Drop it" keeps the flow with the hard classic rock that is really missed in music these days (R.E.O included). Next up "Only the strong survive" combines a catchy melody and chorus while still keeping its hard rocking identity of the first two songs. "Easy Money" keeps it melodic as well with an edge. Chuck Berry's "Rock n Roll" music has not aged so well. It does not pack the same punch it did when I was 14 jumping around my room playing air guitar. But it still does not take away from the vibe the first half offers. "Take Me" is my favorite track off this album. Great lyrics and Gary bleeds through with a solo where every note is meant to be there. "I need you tonight" is pretty much a filler and it sounds out of place with the rocking tunes before and after. "Meet me on the mountain" gets the album back on track with again great melodies and musicianship. Then it bleeds into probably the most popular track off the album,"Back on the road again", bassist Bruce Hall handles the vocals. Gary goes off at the end of this song with a blistering solo that fades out to let you know you just been R.E.OWNED!

After 31 years I do not get tired of listening to this album.