Words: 68
Average Length: 5.50
The seed for this was 33/36 Across, which (complete with the clue), randomly popped up while I was doing something important like shaving or playing electronic Yahtzee. Then I slapped down 1 Across and decided I had to work in 14 Across as a complement. (We’re big into pickles in our family. And deli mustard.) Enjoy, and “have some eat,” as my grandma used to say.
Words: 20
Average Length: 5.10
Two listening notes: First, “The Weight” (clue for 1 Across). I’m partial to songs that are filled with allusions and weird characters and seem like they mean something, even if that meaning is not apparent. That’s why I’m a wholly commited Dylan fan; I know his songs express profound truths, even if I’m not sure what they are. “The Weight” grabs me from the first line: Nazareth and the terrific lyrical conceit of “feeling ‘bout half ___ dead.” The original version by The Band remains my favorite – Robbie Robertson is a certified songwriting genius and Levon Helm and Richard Manuel are soulful singers – but some of the covers are terrific as well, including those by Diana Ross, Aretha Franklin, Joe Cocker, and Weezer.
Second, “The Letter,” by 5 Across. This is one of the best bubblegum pop songs ever. It rocks hard and hammers the imperative to “get back to my baby once more.” Plus, it’s yet another song with a brilliant, bluesy Joe Cocker cover.
I’M HAVING ISSUES UPLOADING AN ONLINE VERSION – IF I CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT’S WRONG I’LL AMEND THIS POST TO INCLUDE AN ONLINE LINK.
Words: 74
Average Length: 5.03
Here’s a relatively easy puzzle with a literal title. As you’ll see from the picture, I’ve got new JeffsPuzzles.com head wear – the older caps bore an unfortunate color resemblance to a cap supporting he-who-must-not-be-named-but-should-soon-be-in-prison – which, in addition to serving as a bonus clue to 30 Down, is the apex of nerd chic. Email me at jeffspuzzles@gmail.com if you’d like me to send you one ABSOLUTELY FREE!
Words: 24
Average Length: 4.83
Despite my cluing it as an elementary school instrument, there is some wonderful classical music composed for 15 Across. Here’s a link to Vivaldi’s [15 Across] Concerto in C (RV 443). The first movement (Allegro) is full of virtuosic fireworks, the second movement (Largo) is hauntingly beautiful, and the third movement (Allegro Molto) is even more technically impressive than the first. I hope you enjoy both the puzzle and the music!
Technical note: due to an oversight and laziness on my part, when you solve the puzzle online, print it, or open it in AcrossLite, the title will say 19, not 20. I promise it’s a brand-new puzzle.
Words: 72
Average Length: 5.33
Yet another music recommendation for y’all (actually a double): The clue for 28 Down mentions Drive-By Truckers, an excellent band and one-time home of the phenomenally talented Jason Isbell. His album “Southeastern” is way up on my most-played list; it’s filled with emotionally raw, evocative, brave, rocking, instantly memorable songs. You’re welcome, again.
Words: 24
Average Length: 4.67
By chance, this grid includes answers/clues related to two shows that, to virtually the entire Earth, are the height of musical theatre – but, to me, are fatally ill-conceived. The first, 8 Across, has terrific music but an outrageous plot. The second, Rent (see clue for 3 Down), has even better music but struck me as whiny. Having said that, (1) Jonathan Larson was a genius, and his early death was tragic, and (2) I’ve never seen 3 Down, so it may be the whininess carries through from the original.
I will take every opportunity to mention The [16 Down] Empire in my puzzles. They were (until their breakup in April 2022) a group of stellar Australian musicians who wrote infectious songs and played an exhilarating mix of rock, jazz, Latin, reggae, music hall, and any other musical genre you can think of. If you don’t know them, start with their second album, “Two Shoes,“ which is in my top 5 most-played of all time. You’re welcome.
Words: 79 (15×16 grid)
Average Length: 4.96
To quote the endlessly quotable Bob Dylan, “you don’t need a weather man to know which way the wind blows.” (“Subterranean Homesick Blues”). A musical meteorologist will do just fine, as this puzzle reveals.
Words: 16
Average Length: 5.00
I hope you enjoy this week’s MMM. Starting with today’s grid, I plan to write a few totally subjective sentences about one or two entries in each MMM. Here goes:
8 Across (ranked by Rolling Stone as the 243rd greatest song ever) is the most radical track on Revolver, which at the time was the most radical album in pop music history (and is Rolling Stone’s 11th greatest album ever). It’s a bleak, beautiful song with a propulsive melody and wistful lyrics (mostly by Paul) and a terrific, jagged George Martin string arrangement.
Revolver is my favorite Beatles album (Rubber Soul is second), but 8 Across is only my fourth favorite song on the album. I generally prefer John’s songs to Paul’s, and two of his tunes on Revolver – She Said She Said and I’m Only Sleeping – take first and second. Paul’s masterpiece, Here There and Everywhere, ranks third for me.
Words: 66
Average Length: 5.82
Difficulty: Whose words these are I think you know/My themeless puzzles challenge though/There is no need for you to fear/You always can to Google go! (With apologies to Robert Frost.)
I’ve been on a poetry-reading kick for several months; inevitably, that newfound interest is seeping into my grids, which accounts for the grid-spanners at 18 and 51 Across. Both are lines from well-known poems that are powerful and devastating, in very different ways.
I encountered 12 Across in a very good book my son and I read as part of our 2-person book group: “The Future Starts Here: Adventures in the Twenty-First Century,” by John Higgs. Higgs is a thought-provoking, entertaining British writer who seems to know brilliant, creative, cool people in all areas of human endeavor. (The book we’re currently reading, which I also strongly recommend, is a remarkable family history by Ingrid Rojas Contreras entitled “The Man Who Could Move Clouds.”)
There are certainly simpler ways to clue 16 Across, but I wanted to use a lyric from all-time favorite Joni Mitchell, who recently made an inspirational return to the Newport Folk Festival. No apologies for the groaner of a clue for 26 Across; I figured I’d work the poetry angle into a pun to draw attention away from the fact that the answer is arrant crosswordese. Finally, as noted in the clues, after I finished the grid I somehow ended up with five entries clues relating to Greek mythology. I’ll sign off by saying, in the name of Apollo (god of the sun, music, and poetry), please enjoy the puzzle and come back Wednesday for Mostly Musical Mini 18.
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