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When anything goes, not everything works. That's the case with Focus III. There is some classic Focus music here, if you can wade through the fairly pointless and repetitive jamming. Usually in prog, longer songs indicate higher quality, focused music. Here? The exact opposite applies, and the quality is directly inversely proportional to song length.

Round Goes the Gossip, Sylvia. Here Focus take to rocking. The former is a highly energetic and entertaining piece--sure it's goofy, but it's catchy, playful, and all that is good about Focus (think Hocus Pocus light). Sylvia features a gorgeous melody, as well as memorable guitar/organ interplay...just a great listen.

Love Remembered, Elspeth of Nottingham. Focus smartly include a couple mellow tunes, and both are keepers. Love Remembered is a simple yet enjoyable flute piece over distinctive guitar, and Elspeth is a wonderful, haunting folksy tune.

Carnival Fugue, Focus III. Here we have more evidence that Focus is capable of penning concise prog when they put their minds to it. Carnival Fugue builds nicely, each of the three movements picking up the pace and energy. Focus III continues the series in high fashion, alternating foreboding and bouncy melodies. Great tunes!

Answers? Questions! Questions? Answers!, Anonymous II. Filler, padding, loose jamming--whatever you want to call it, it's not that great. The former lays down some nice grooves and of course has classic, Focus-quality guitar and organ, but the 14 minute run time is definitely too long. However, that appears concise when compared to Anonymous II: this beast has MAYBE 8 good minutes of music. The rest is meaningless and boring bass and drum solos. Focus really laid a stink bomb with most of this one.

Plenty of great music for Focus lovers and prog lovers alike to be found here! Just don't expect to be blown away by the jam tunes, and you'll be fine. Fortunately Focus really got its act together for the next album!