Constructor: Michael Hawkins
Relative difficulty: Easy (3:21)
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THEME: sewing, I guess— themers end with SEAMS, THREAD, NEEDLE, and STITCHES, respectively:
Theme answers:
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Four themers loosely connected by their last words. Again, we get an adequate, common theme-type and a grid that feels phoned in from decades ago. There's not even a revealer or any kind of wordplay to make this theme snap together. Just a general word grouping. And sometimes those words are directly related to the sewing meaning (BURST AT THE SEAMS) and sometimes they're not (MOVE THE NEEDLE). It's all just so weak. Just so much filler. And the grid is so so choppy. Cascading short answers, the grid awash in 3s and 4s (again). Just did this week's American Values Club Crossword, which just makes a mockery of most NYT themed puzzles (as do most AVCXwords). Oh, and it was made by a woman, but let's stay on topic. Why is the "best puzzle in the world" this mediocre? More of you need to be asking this. Aloud. Or in writing.
Even to recount my journey through this puzzle is an exercise in dullness. Wanted SNEEZE at 1A: Cause for a blessing (ACHOO) and it wouldn't fit so ABBA / ADA / HORA etc. Done. I do not believe that BROWN RICE is a [Side dish at a Chinese restaurant]. I'm sure you can get it if you ask, but the association there is not strong. Chinese restaurants serve white rice. The only thing I remember about solving this is having trouble with GENTLE (of all things!) (24D: Soothing). Had the GEN-, wrote in GENIAL (?!), which is not a terrible guess, but GENTLE is certainly better, as well as being a hell of a lot more ordinary. I liked ON THE SLY, and LEDTVS was fun to parse, and honestly the grid is not tortured. It's just clogged with repeaters, yet again, and the theme is tepid, yet again, and I just want ... better. I don't expect it to happen any time soon. Huge pay raise and a much more conscientious editorship would help. But again, don't hold your breath. Good night.
Signed, Rex Parker, King of CrossWorld
[Follow Rex Parker on Twitter and Facebook]
Relative difficulty: Easy (3:21)
Theme answers:
- BURST AT THE SEAMS (17A: Not be contained anymore)
- LOSE THE THREAD (27A: Forget one's place in a conversation)
- MOVE THE NEEDLE (39A: Have measurable impact)
- LEAVE IN STITCHES (50A: Make laugh hysterically)
"Ma" Rainey (born Gertrude Pridgett, September 1882[ or April 26, 1886 – December 22, 1939) was one of the earliest African-American professional blues singers and one of the first generation of blues singers to record. She was billed as the "Mother of the Blues". (wikipedia)
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Even to recount my journey through this puzzle is an exercise in dullness. Wanted SNEEZE at 1A: Cause for a blessing (ACHOO) and it wouldn't fit so ABBA / ADA / HORA etc. Done. I do not believe that BROWN RICE is a [Side dish at a Chinese restaurant]. I'm sure you can get it if you ask, but the association there is not strong. Chinese restaurants serve white rice. The only thing I remember about solving this is having trouble with GENTLE (of all things!) (24D: Soothing). Had the GEN-, wrote in GENIAL (?!), which is not a terrible guess, but GENTLE is certainly better, as well as being a hell of a lot more ordinary. I liked ON THE SLY, and LEDTVS was fun to parse, and honestly the grid is not tortured. It's just clogged with repeaters, yet again, and the theme is tepid, yet again, and I just want ... better. I don't expect it to happen any time soon. Huge pay raise and a much more conscientious editorship would help. But again, don't hold your breath. Good night.
Signed, Rex Parker, King of CrossWorld
[Follow Rex Parker on Twitter and Facebook]