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Focus vs. Gryphon

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Poll Question: Do you have a preference?
Poll Choice Votes Poll Statistics
27 [50.94%]
23 [43.40%]
3 [5.66%]
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Logan View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Logan Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Focus vs. Gryphon
    Posted: April 25 2020 at 07:15
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:
















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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Cristi Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 25 2020 at 07:36
Focus
I could never get into Gryphon, to put it into kind words. 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Logan Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 25 2020 at 07:48
Originally posted by Cristi 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
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Mormegil Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 25 2020 at 08:24
Going with Gryphon for this one.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote dougmcauliffe Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 25 2020 at 08:25
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!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Cristi Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 25 2020 at 08:39
Originally posted by Logan Logan wrote:

Originally posted by Cristi 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. 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Logan Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 25 2020 at 08:49
Originally posted by Cristi Cristi wrote:

Originally posted by Logan Logan wrote:

Originally posted by Cristi 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
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Manuel Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 25 2020 at 09:05
This is a hard choice, but I'll go with Gryphon, but just by a hair.

Edited by Manuel - April 25 2020 at 09:05
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote dwill123 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 25 2020 at 10:12
Focus
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote gr8dane Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 25 2020 at 10:22
Focus easy.Only like Gryphon's Treason.
Shake & bake.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote geekfreak Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 25 2020 at 10:26
This is a hard chose two excellent bands but by a fration Focus
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Lewian Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 25 2020 at 10:53
Focus. Haven't heard that much Gryphon but it didn't grab me. Focus at their best are as good as anyone.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote JD Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 25 2020 at 10:59
Really tough one.

Both bands were early fav's of mine. But each band really had one outstanding album, Focus - Moving Waves and Gryphon - Red Queen to Gryphon Three.

So if I stack those two up against each other I'd have to pick Focus - Moving Waves.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Chaser Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 25 2020 at 11:03
Midnight Mushrumps is proving a wonderful start to my home working days. Beautiful music. Gryphon!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Cosmiclawnmower Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 25 2020 at 11:17
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!

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Man With Hat Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 25 2020 at 13:12
I suppose Gryphon. 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote irrelevant Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 25 2020 at 13:35
Focus are one of my favourites whereas Gryphon never made a big impact on me. I should try out the Treason album though...
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote dr wu23 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 25 2020 at 13:46
Voted Gryphon to even things up... ;)
but actually like them equally.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote someone_else Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 25 2020 at 15:51
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).
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Logan Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 25 2020 at 16:26
^ Thanks for all the responses, I wrote a post addressing each one I hadn't responded to, but then I thought, hmm, that might look over-the-top, and I do over-the-top far too often.

Originally posted by irrelevant irrelevant wrote:

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


Treason is kind of Gryphon-lite, I might say. It's a nice album on the "Yes" and "Genesis" side of things. It's mostly harmless. I used to like it a lot. I do like "Spring Song" a lot and other songs. It's definitely a departure from earlier Gryphon, gone is that medieval feel, and no crumhorn, to which some might say "I've got a fever and the only prescription is more crumhorn". Treason is a bit of a funny name for it, because that implies a crime (against the state). Some Gryphon fans might have found this to be enough of a departure that they might not forgive the state of this Gryphon album, but it's too sweet and nice to be darkly criminal. If it be Treason, then it be low Treason rather than high Treason. But that's my take on it, and others may disagree. ;)

Edited by Logan - April 25 2020 at 16:39
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