Constructor: Kiran Pandey
Relative issue: Straightforward-Medium (solved Downs-only)
THEME: “OH GEEZ!” (69A: “Yikes!” … or, phonetically, a touch to 17-, 28-, 46- and 61-Throughout) — two-word phrases the place the primary phrase begins with “O” and the second with “G” (so all of the themers are “OGs”:
- OLIVE GARDEN (17A: Informal eating chain with limitless breadsticks)
- OLYMPIC GAMES (28A: Occasion whose image is 5 interlocking rings)
- OPERA GLASSES (46A: Theater binoculars)
- ORANGE GROVE (61A: Place to begin for Tropicana or Florida’s Pure juice)
Phrase of the Day: D’Angelo (38A: Musical style for D’Angelo and Erykah Badu => NEO-SOUL) —
Michael Eugene Archer (born February 11, 1974), higher recognized by his stage title D’Angelo (), is an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and report producer. He first garnered consideration after co-producing the one “U Will Know” for R&B supergroup Black Males United. His debut studio album, Brown Sugar (1995), was licensed platinum by the Recording Business Affiliation of America (RIAA) and obtained widespread acclaim from music critics, who’ve credited the album for ushering within the neo soul motion. His third single, “Woman“, reached the highest ten on the Billboard Sizzling 100.
D’Angelo would then collaborate with artists corresponding to Erykah Badu, Lauryn Hill, and then-girlfriend Angie Stone. His subsequent album, Voodoo (2000), debuted at primary on the US Billboard 200 and continued to obtain crucial acclaim. The album’s lead single “Untitled (How Does It Really feel)“, earned him the Grammy Award for Greatest Male R&B Vocal Efficiency; likewise, Voodoo received Greatest R&B Album. Following this era, D’Angelo turned more and more uncomfortable together with his rising standing as a intercourse image. This was adopted by quite a few private struggles, together with alcoholism, which resulted in restricted musical output for a number of years.
After over a decade spent largely out of the general public eye, he then launched his third studio album, Black Messiah, in 2014. The album was met with crucial acclaim and peaked at quantity 5 on the US Billboard 200. The identical yr, D’Angelo was hailed as the subsequent Marvin Gaye by GQ. D’Angelo additionally contributed to the soundtrack for the 2018 online game Crimson Lifeless Redemption 2, performing the track “Unshaken“. (wikipedia)
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This puzzle supplies instance of the worth of Downs-only fixing. Solved usually, I believe I’d’ve discovered this just a little simplistic. The revealer’s effective, intelligent even, however the theme solutions themselves aren’t any nice shakes, and there are not less than a small handful of weak brief solutions that might’ve irked me extra, I believe, if I would encountered them at pace. DAV and FAE are simply dangerous, IMO. They haven’t any place in any grid that is not taxed significantly by the theme (or by stunning longer fill, in a themeless). On a Monday, with a comparatively simple theme, no, they shouldn’t be right here. All of the petty little issues concerning the puzzle would’ve stood out extra, or I would’ve observed them extra, as a result of there wasn’t sufficient stuff to occupy my consideration in any other case. However fixing Downs-only … now I am on an journey. Sure, FAE and DAV nonetheless grate, however I’ve acquired larger fish to fry, as I attempt to wrangle the longer Down solutions (which find yourself being a number of the greatest fill the grid has to supply). I loved the battle to get CUSTOM FIT (which is an efficient reply). I loved attempting to recollect deodorants and never having the ability to use Throughout clues to assist me out—gave me longer to scroll via merchandise, commercials, and many others. as I finally inferred a handful of Acrosses after which had OLD SPICE leap out at me (I used to be pondering of these bizarre half-man / half-horse commercials, so after I discovered the reply, I had a real “sure! that is what I used to be pondering of!” second. I loved being baffled by what “woodwind” in a jazz orchestra may doable have seven letters and an “L” in its second place. I may consider solely three believable woodwinds in a jazz orchestra, and none of them match the profile. I forgot to reckon with the totally different saxophone *varieties*. ALTO! That is what that pesky “L” was doing there. These are the miniature battles, fought and received, that make Downs-only fixing way more attention-grabbing than common fixing on a Monday. This puzzle looks like a good, common Monday, however I had an above-average expertise as a result of the way in which it performed Downs-only was genuinely entertaining (and since, not like a regularly-solved Monday, it really required a little bit of effort on my half).
[Some good ALTO SAX in here (25D: Woodwind in a jazz band)]
One other function of Downs-only fixing is that innocuous-seeming phrases can flip abruptly perilous. Is it EACH … or APOP!? (31D: Per individual). When you possibly can’t simply take a look at the Throughout clues, the dilemma … dilemmas even more durable. See additionally PEEP v. WORD (34D: “Not one other ___ out of you!”). Or what I believed was a BUTT v. REAR state of affairs that turned out to be a 3rd choice: TUSH! (41D: Patootie). Then there was the puzzlingly non-“S” plural FEET (9D: Poetical items). I educate poetry—complete classes on FEET!—and I nonetheless needed to suppose a bit to give you that one. CUSTOM FIT was in all probability the hardest hurdle of the day, as I finally needed to accede, nevertheless reluctantly, to the near-certainty that FAE was going to be an precise reply on this puzzle. Had the CUSTOM half and needed FIT however rejected it as a result of, effectively, FAE, come on … however then needed to settle for it as soon as the “-IT” half turned simple. So many little obstacles to beat, however in the long run, they had been all overcomeable. Felt good. The puzzle ended on a barely bitter observe, as I believe I say “AW GEEZ,” not “OH GEEZ,” however the latter appears completely affordable, so it did not undermine my general good vibes an excessive amount of.
Assorted observations:
- 4D: ___ Pilkey, creator/illustrator who created Captain Underpants (DAV) — I do know that collection is tremendously, generationally well-liked however for no matter motive this man’s title simply did not break via. My spouse after fixing this puzzle: “Am I speculated to know who wrote Captain Underpants?” Me: “I do know, proper?” We each simply took an informed guess at his title, primarily based on the crosses. The “D” in his title (crossing SPA DAY) was the final of his title letters for each of us.
- 33A: Discontinued Apple program for organizing photos (iPHOTO) — the less the discontinued industrial merchandise, the higher. The much less shilling for Apple, the higher. The one motive I’ve any type of affection for iPHOTO right now is that it helped me pull off the PEEP / WORD differentiation at 34D: “Not one other ___ out of you!” (“PEEP“).
- 37A: Race of legendary beings, in fantasy fiction (FAE) — the final time this time period appeared was three years in the past, when Erik Agard clued it as [Neopronoun with a nod to folklore] (in a Friday puzzle). Earlier than that, the final time it appeared was … after I was two months outdated. That is proper, January, 1970—when FAE was clued as [From: Scot.]. And earlier than that … there was no earlier than that. You now know the clues for all three lifetime FAE appearances. For perspective, GAE has appeared thirty-three instances, and … “What the hell is GAE?” you rightly ask (allegedly, Scots for “go”). If we’re bringing FAE again, then I believe “Neopronoun” is the one affordable solution to go, ‘trigger if FAE had been viable as “fairyworld,” imagine me, individuals would’ve used it, and clued it that method, greater than Zero Occasions.
- 59D: Cohort that grew up with the web (GEN Z) — beginning to get exhausted by all generational labeling and assumptions. There are too many generations now. As a member of Gen X, I apologize. Sure, Child Boomers got here earlier than, however that was a significant demographic as a result of … effectively, it is within the title. The infants, they boomed. Gen X was identical to “youngsters are totally different now, let’s divide individuals up.” And so forth. And so forth. And so forth. And now these gen divisions are all being outlined by tech utilization / entry. They’re arbitrary moments in time. Used to promote stuff and divide individuals from each other … normally so as to promote stuff. I do know I am yelling into the wind right here (or at a cloud, if you happen to want), however I’d love the “Gen” crap to all expire, asap.
- 39D: Movie incorrectly introduced as Greatest Image earlier than “Moonlight” (LA LA LAND) — I loved remembering this implausible second of tv.
That is all. See you subsequent time.
Signed, Rex Parker, King of CrossWorld
