Rumble (album)

The album was produced by Rick Chertoff.[7] The fellow Philadelphia band the Hooters worked on the album; Jules Shear helped write two songs.[8] Rumble contains four rerecordings of songs that appeared on the band's independent debut album.[9]

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[10]
Chicago Sun-Times	[11]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide	[12]

The Washington Post called Conwell "a likable roots-rocker who turns out energetic bar-band music, and the attempt to turn him into something else is misguided at best."[13] The Philadelphia Inquirer determined that "Chertoff, perhaps mindful of the hit-singles potential of some of these songs, might have clipped the engaging guitarist too close to the vest in a few spots, denying Rumble's audience the chance to experience an inventive guitar voice."[9] The St. Petersburg Times deemed the album "a savage, blues-based, booze-soaked rock 'n' roll romp that proves a bar band can graduate to major-label status without letting corporate pressure douse its fiery conviction."[14]

The Boston Globe wrote that Rumble "has a few simplistic rock anthems, but comes alive in its striking ability to merge blues and rock with a near-gospel fire."[15] The Toronto Star concluded that "rootsy and real as the music is, it's just a little too contrived."[16] Comparing Conwell to Bruce Springsteen, The Gazette opined that the frontman needed to develop more "vision, if he hopes to proceed beyond Stray Cats-bar band status."[17] The Chicago Sun-Times thought that "Rumble sometimes sounds like the vinyl equivalent of a Brat Pack film, one of the better ones."[11]

AllMusic called "I'm Not Your Man" "as great a roots rocker as the late '80s produced, and reason enough for the group to get its shot at the big time."[10] The Chicago Tribune listed Rumble as one of the 20 best albums of 1988.[18]