Are there any Hammill songs where he is just completely screaming the whole time? It's more out of curiosity than anything, and I don't have time to listen to nearly 750 songs or however many he has at this point. 

Any answers would be great, thanks!

I agree. i find that he goes from anger to despair and often they are intermingled.. forsaken gardens and the lie (Bernini's St Theresa) from the same album have that intensity too

-Hi,

You're talking about a very prolific singer and writer that has been at it over 55 years at least.

I see it differently ... a lot of rock music and songs have lyrics that are not that big a deal, or important, and the singer's ability is the part that wakes us up into believing what is the hassle and the issue. Jim Morrison did this really well, and there is some anger there even if at times it comes off sort of like a street man letting off the steam.

PH's lyrics are more "personal" (not sure how else to describe them!) and I think that he decided a long time ago, that his words were important to him, and that he would perform them in a way to make sure there is no idea, or confusion as to what all this is about ... and this includes, many times, everything that you can think of in the scope of human emotions. Rock music, and specially pop music, has always disdained that and even made fun of it, by making it look like that none of it matters ... well, I know you do not think about that when you listen to PH ... and more importantly, he is not "acting" his words ... he is delivering them right out front, anger/intense or not.

I'm not sure that telling you which album has more of this and less of that, since a lyric can have a few words that much more incendiary than the way it was spoken, or sung! And a really good actor/singer can deliver this and fool us each and every time.

I look at it, and have right from the start, as one artist that is TRUE to himself, and his WORDS ... there is nothing fake or cardboard in PH's work ... maybe as he is getting much older it could be thought of as being softer and tender, but I think his words still stand up well.

I'm not sure I would go by suggestions ... I would look at the cover and find the album that seems to tweak your imagination and go listen to it. Doing it this way, takes out the thought/idea that it is supposed to have this and that (per suggestion) and then you listen to it and it is not quite as you think and want.

Appreciate the artist for WHO he is, and WHAT he does ... PH is as important in this area, as anyone in the music business, were it not for too many folks weaned on pop music and numbers and have no idea that there is something else out there for you to listen to ... where do you stand? 

PS: My favorite line .... 

"... where do the actors go after the show ... ? ... and every time I hear it, I can not help thinking ... the irony is that there is no acting here, and before or after the show is the same thing ... there you have it ... perfect PH!

mellotronwave wrote: ^ PH sang a couple of songs on David Cross 's Exiles CD (1997) which can be described as creamy

Exactamundo!

mellotronwave wrote: ^ Thanx .... the track called Troppo from the same album features PH too (with a Tarzan 's like scream ) :-)

"Troppo" sounds like a King Crimson song, doesn't it? If David Cross and Robert Fripp recorded an album under the name King Crimson feat. Peter Hammill, I believe it would have been magnificent.

Hi,

I find it strange to see that listed here ... IT'S A LOVE SONG ... and how we find excuses to not do this or that ... and blow a relationship ... there is no anger in this ... just a stream of consciousness (so to speak) of words that in the end, only mean one thing! The last line of the song!

Hi,

I'm not sure of that ... there was a story a long time ago about RF teaching somebody about some music, and after a while he decided to not help this student ... "you're self sufficient" ... meaning that any instruction on anything was not going to help at all ... Peter Hammill, more than likely would fit that really well, and I sincerely doubt that RF would consider a band with him, even knowing what a great lyricist he is, however, the lyrics are very "personal" and that is something that lyrics in KC/RF works ARE NOT. Thus, a PH would not fit ... but it didn't stop RF from guesting on early stuff which I think shows how much he appreciated the expression in those days, for its difference and style ... something that went south in the commercial days of the Internet. Basically, it's all AI nowadays, so to speak, since it all sounds the same and all have the same idea in lyrics ... that are not exactly as important or interesting. Be angry .... about what? ... That's not PH!