AMG REVIEW: The Jesus & Mary Chain's Sound of Speed EP was released in 1993 right after the Reid brothers and made the startling vital Honey's Dead record. Like that record, this EP is a snarling, noisy thoroughly punk record that contains one of the J&MC's best songs and one of their best cover versions, as well. "Snakedriver," which was featured on the soundtrack of The Crow, is a pounding blues with vocals that slink around the beat and sludgy guitars that howl and shudder. Prime J&MC, it should have been a big hit, but wasn't. "Something I Can't Have" is a buoyant pop song with a soaring hook and guitars that leap off the grooves into your ear. "Write Record Release Blues" is a scathing attack on the record business set to a machine-driven blues beat and underpinned by squalling guitars. "Little Red Rooster" is a ferocious cover of the Howlin' Wolf classic dripping with noise and menace. This EP is one of the band's best and, along with Honey's Dead, helped remind people why the Jesus & Mary Chain was so important. [All four of the songs on the Sound of Speed EP turned up on the excellent Sound of Speed collection. "Snakedriver" and "Something I Can't Have" both were on The Jesus and Mary Chain Hate Rock N' Roll compilation.] -- Tim Sendra
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