Faster (Manic Street Preachers song)

"Faster" was released on 6 June 1994 by record label Epic as the first single from the band's third studio album, The Holy Bible. It reached number 16 in the UK Singles Chart.[1]

"Faster" was ranked as the 80th best alternative rock song of 1994 by Kyle McGovern at Spin, who state "Underproduced vocals aside, "Faster" is one of those songs that holds up way better than you'd ever imagine possible."[2] Emily Mackay named it as the 5th best Manic Street Preachers song at The Guardian. Mackay opined "Its darkly rushing chorus is a perfect example of how Bradfield's music lifted Edwards' lyrics into something that, though harsh, was also full of an almost joyous energy, a mile-a-minute thrill and a sense of limitless audacity."[7] James Forryan of HMV selected the song as one of the band's 5 highlights, who regarded it as among the best examples of Edwards' "peak of his powers as lyricist."[8]

In 2014, NME ranked the song 217th in their 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list.[9] They later placed it at number 1 in their list of 40 Essential Manic Street Preachers Tracks, with James Dean Bradfield saying "It's one of Richey's soothsaying lyrics. There's a lot of prophesy, in terms of the acceleration of everything, joy, pain, death, consumerism."[10]

The band performed "Faster" on the BBC's Top of the Pops, with lead singer James Dean Bradfield wearing an IRA-style balaclava with his first name scrawled over his forehead and the rest of the band wearing military regalia. Many viewers interpreted this as a show of support for the IRA,[11] and the BBC told the band that a record number of complaints (over 25,000) had been received.[12]

CD

1. "Faster" – 3:54
2. "P.C.P." – 3:53
3. "Sculpture of Man" – 1:53
4. "New Art Riot (In E Minor)" – 3:00

10" vinyl

1. "Faster"
2. "P.C.P."
3. "Sculpture of Man"

Cassette

1. "Faster"
2. "P.C.P."