Focus vs. Gryphon

These were two of my very favourite bands when I was first exploring Prog. In fact, I knew these before I recall knowing the term Prog.

Here are for of my favourite tracks from each band off different albums:

Cristi wrote: Focus I could never get into Gryphon, to put it into kind words.

You might not have tried the right albums with Gryphon. Treason, and Raindance, would I think we your best bet. I like all Gryphon albums very much personally.



On the other hand, that example might be seen as rather twee (as with other Gryphon stuff). The crumhorn (and bassoon) and certain Gentle Giant like qualities, as well as a Neo-medieval tweeness, or just tweeness in general, would be off-putting to various people. Treason rather reminds me of early Yes in part.

Edited by Logan - April 25 2020 at 08:35

I tried Gryphon once and didn't like them but I don't vote off of one listen. Just wanted to comment to show some love for Focus, amazing melodic band!

Cristi wrote: Logan wrote: Cristi wrote: Focus I could never get into Gryphon, to put it into kind words.  You might not have tried the right albums with Gryphon. Treason, and Raindance, would I think we your best bet. I like all Gryphon albums very much personally. On the other hand, that example might be seen as rather twee (as with other Gryphon stuff). The crumhorn (and bassoon) and certain Gentle Giant like qualities, as well as a Neo-medieval tweeness, or just tweeness in general, would be off-putting to various people. Treason rather reminds me of early Yes in part. it's fine, I don't have to get into everything, I bet I can list bands and albums you would never listen to, and it's fine.

Agreed, and funnily enough, I wrote something of the same sentiment and then I edited it out. It bothers me nought that people have different tastes, and there's more than enough to listen to and try that one thinks is likely to appeal than digging hard to try to find something that appeals from a band that hasn't appealed. I was thinking those albums might appeal, but then thought, probably not and of course I don't know how much you already have tried of Gryphon. I understand why it wouldn't appeal. I have often been pleasantly surprised in conversations here when people suggested music of bands I thought I didn't like at all, but I'm not very good at recommendations at the best of times.

I can totally get why it wouldn't appeal to various tastes, even when it comes to the more rock and mainstream Gryphon. As I often say, to each his or her own tastes, and in tastes there can be no dispute. I appreciated you taking the time to respond and your post gave me something to think about and share. I am interested in what people like and don't like (and why) as I'm interested in people and having a variety of conversations.

EDIT 2: "I bet I can list bands and albums you would never listen to". Bet on! Okay, maybe not in full, but I would be be willing to try some tracks. I like to challenge myself and be challenged. If I don't like it, that's fine. I'll give my honest appraisal (I made a topic before for reviewing tracks by bands you think you dislike, and discovered some good stuff there). I'm open to trying any music. I don't like everything, but I like to think I have fairly broad tastes and am reasonably open-minded, and have explored much that wouldn't be in my usual comfort zone. Variety is the spice of life, even if some spices appeal more to me than others. I can't imagine any band that I wouldn't be willing to at least try if someone asked me and I had a link to the music. If it was long and it didn't appeal, I might not listen to the whole thing, mind you. So please do throw one my way, I'd like to try something new and different to me, and I do hope to expand my tastes. I'm genuinely excited to try if you will throw one my way. I've discovered so much music thanks to the forum. In no way is this meant to imply that you should do the same in case it seems that way, by the way, but I like that sort of forum interaction.
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I wrote this before seeing your response, so this is just a general commentary and not part of that particular conversation.

I love both.

With Gryhon, I find that it can be a bit too samey at times. I love Red Queen to Gryphon Three, but the album feels overly formulaic to me, like each of the four tracks has the same basic pattern. But then if it's emulating chess in a way, I rather get that.   I think Midnight Mushrumps is my favourite as it does have some more variety while being progressive. I like all of the Gryphon albums very much actually. Red Queen is the one that got the most play.

I could fancifully liken this poll to the battle between Bond and Scaramanga in The Man with Golden Gun: "A duel between titans... My crumhorn against your flute." On a related note, I once had this as my post quote:

Scaramanga: A duel between titans... my third nipple against your Walther PPK.
Bond: What, your three nipples against my six bullets?
Scaramanga: I only need the third one, Mr. Bond.

Bond fans will know that Scaramanga as played by the amazing Christpher Lee had a superfluous mammalian gland, a supernumerary (third) nipple, as well as a very cool golden gun which took only one bullet. Speaking of superfluous... I really do need to learn to Focus more.

Edited by Logan - April 25 2020 at 11:11

Focus

This is a hard chose two excellent bands but by a fration Focus

Ooh you b****r (I mean that affectionately!) what a choice to have to make! I love both for different reasons.. oof.. if ive got to go down on one side it will have to be Focus, if only cos I had a cheap compilation of theirs when I was about 12 which was one of the things which opened up rock (progressive and otherwise) for me! And I cant live without Focus III/ Answers? Questions!- Questions! Answers? from Focus 3. I discovered Gryphon later in my teens and all 4 Transatlantic lps are very dear to my heart!

Focus are one of my favourites whereas Gryphon never made a big impact on me. I should try out the Treason album though...

Focus. My history with them goes back to 1971. Nevertheless, Gryphon also has some good points (I love Lament and their comeback album has some great tracks as well).