Constructor: David J. Kahn
Relative difficulty: Easy (3:39)
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THEME: WOODSTOCK (63A: Iconic August 1969 music festival, four of whose performers appear in answers to 17-, 36-, 46- and 55-Across) — non-consecutive circles contain names of performers at this festival, just like the clue says ... also THE CATSKILLS (20A: Upstate New York area where 63-Across was held) is in here too:
Theme answers:
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Why do a tribute puzzle if you're not going to make it interesting. The non-consecutive circle gimmick? That tired thing? Why? Four random musical acts whyyyyyyyy? You know, you're not *required* to do a tribute if you don't really have any good ideas. You can just ... let it go. The world did not need a WOODSTOCK tribute puzzle, and it For Sure did not need this one. There is nothing here. This is as programmatic and pro forma as they come. Is boomers' good-vibes nostalgia, along with a surfeit of theme answers (6 long ones!), supposed to be enough to make this one palatable? I just don't know why you do a tribute puzzle if you don't have a good idea in you. "Wow, you mean the letters in SANTANA can be found inside SANTA MONICA!?!?!" Who is the solver that is exclaiming this in his head, and, more importantly, is he (still) high? Conceptually, this is a gigantic miss. A colossal "who cares?" Take THE CATSKILLS and CHOKEHOLDS and RAZE the rest.
I have nothing else to say today. I can't say anything when there's no there there. A non-theme *and* I had to endure ARB and ODIC and SINKSAPUTT!?!? The NYTXW knows it has no real competition in the world of daily subscription puzzles, so like all monopolies it's gonna give you mediocre junk and you're just gonna take it and like it. This puzzle's reputation is running on nostalgia, and nowhere is that more evident than in this puzzle, which, ironically, can't even do nostalgia justice. ADIEU!
Signed, Rex Parker, King of CrossWorld
[Follow Rex Parker on Twitter and Facebook]
Relative difficulty: Easy (3:39)
Theme answers:
- BAKED ZITI (Joan BAEZ) (17A: Casserole dish in a trattoria)
- SANTA MONICA (SANTANA) (36A: West Coast city with a popular pier)
- CLOCK TOWERS (Joe COCKER) (46A: Structure in some old town squares)
- JOB APPLICANT (Janis JOPLIN) (55A: Interviewee, maybe)
: of, relating to, or forming an ode (m-w.com)
• • •
I have nothing else to say today. I can't say anything when there's no there there. A non-theme *and* I had to endure ARB and ODIC and SINKSAPUTT!?!? The NYTXW knows it has no real competition in the world of daily subscription puzzles, so like all monopolies it's gonna give you mediocre junk and you're just gonna take it and like it. This puzzle's reputation is running on nostalgia, and nowhere is that more evident than in this puzzle, which, ironically, can't even do nostalgia justice. ADIEU!
Signed, Rex Parker, King of CrossWorld
[Follow Rex Parker on Twitter and Facebook]