It was the last REO album to prominently feature a more hard rock sound.

In 2013, the album was released on CD by UK-based company Rock Candy Records, with expanded liner notes and photos.

The Globe and Mail wrote that "Nine Lives doesn't offer anything that hasn't already been done to death on the other eight... A little boogie-woogie piano, a few guitar solos that never quite get off the ground, some screeched vocals—it all adds up to a half-hour of competence with very little originality.

"[7] Record World said of the single "Easy Money" that "the verse builds into a roaring chorus that's an AOR standard.

"[8] The magazine said of the single release of "Only the Strong Survive" that it "rips and roars with typical REO flash.