ACROSS LITE PUZZLE: [ LOLLAPA-ZOO-LA]
PROGRAM: [Across Lite]
PROGRAM: [Java]
PRINTOUT PUZZLE: [ LOLLAPA-ZOO-LA]
PROGRAM: [Adobe Acrobat]
It’s the return of the vague-as-Hell puzzle “???” difficulty ranking. You’re on your own, folks. Put it like this: if you’re going to the Pavement show this Saturday (like me), chances are this puzzle’s going to be easier for you than for those of you who’ve never heard of Pavement. (If you see me at the Pavement show, come up and say hello.) Needless to say, be careful out there.
This one was supposed to be for Paste magazine, except they went belly up literally the day after I submitted it. Still, I thought it was cool. I had every intention of re-running this baby next year just before Ryan and Brian’s Lollapuzoola 4. But Lord knows if any of these bands are even going to be around next year, might as well run it today.
While we’re talking music, reader Barry Franklin offers the following cool link. Barry writes, “Study aid for those wishing to improve their solving skills when doing Brendan’s and other more ‘current’ puzzles.” Not quite so sure how it’ll help with the puzzles, but I thought it was an entertaining time suck.
Share the puzzle. New one on Monday.
I’d heard of all but one of those acts (which I might have heard of), mainly from reading the AVClub pretty regularly and wondering who the hell all those bands are they review and how anybody would know about them other than from the AVClub or its archnemesis Pitchfork. Every once in a while I’ll be interested enough in a review to check out the band further, but I’m too old to get most of them and really should stop pretending I have any relevance to the pop culture discussion, as it’s getting kind of unseemly. I think The National is mostly old guys like me, so I guess it’s okay if I listen to them.
The puzzle wound up on the easy side for me. Having heard of the bands was a help but probably not crucial. Got a kick out of the clue for crosswordese 50D. Way to go the extra mile.
I’d call it Medium — specifically a lot of Easy leavened with some Hard, in the form of stuff I’d never heard of. But there was enough of the former to making guessing at the latter not too difficult.
Good of you to include 14A, 1D and 25D for the classicists among us.
Wow! Never have I solved a puzzle with so few Googles when I didn’t know so much. I survived because of the downs. However, the CBGBS/BREAM cross and EAZY[E] were not going to happen for me without a google.
Crossword puzzles like this have got to be some sort of preparation for life where you find yourself in a new situation and survive based on the things you know.
This puzzle is also a testament to the skill (and compassion) of the constructor.
Medium here too. When I first scanned the clues and saw 11A my reaction was, “Aw jeez! I don’t know the name of any of the Lemonheads!” Never heard of Grizzly Bear, other than, ya know, the four-legged killing machine variety. Even knowing the others, I don’t know if I would have finished without the easy crosses as none of the others are bands/people who are really on the tip of my tongue. I’m definitely the Creem/Trouser Press generation. Pitchfork usually just annoys me though I have no doubt that, were I younger, I’d follow it slavishly. Tbh, I’ve never even heard of AVClub. When I’m in the mood for new music I surf Rhapsody. Overall, a fun solve for those of us who are fans of music and animals. But I still say that it’s CBGB not CBGB’s. 😛
Medium, even for this 55 year-old who’d never heard of any of the groups. Easy crosses and the fact that most of the group’s names were guessable quasi-phrases made it do-able.
I was looking for “Z” answers after grizzly and gorillaz.
You must have had a chuckle cluing 54D.
i filled in MODEST MOUSE at 63A with no crosses. i was half right!
I agree. Medium — had only heard of one of the groups (GORILLAZ), but once I got enough of the crosses to realize there was an animal theme, it went smoothly. Would have preferred an Atlanta Braves-themed clue for BREAM, though! I’m afraid I haven’t heard of Julian, but I sure would have known Sid.
As a 69-year old, I was only marginally aware of one or two of the groups. (Now MODEST MOUSE I would have gotten.) Nevertheless I was able to finish in my normal time without help. However, I don’t get the SISTA/SAYS crossing. I guess Sista is a female version of a hood, or gangsta, and “Survey says…” must be the start of some expression or advertising line I’m not familiar with.
“Survey says…” is from the Family Feud game show. Richard Dawson, fast money round, hillbilly motif and all that bluegrass.
I know Danger Mouse As a British cartoon. Completely forgot about George Lopez, which made the NE awkward. Overall a medium rating. Fun, nonetheless!
I think it’s more that if you live in the ‘hood, you may have a SISTA as a relative.
Correct, you are. It’s CBGB, not CBGB’s.
Tausig made the same mistake this week.
Fun and I’d put it on the easy side.