Those extra four seconds were definitely spent in the NW and SE corners, where a few answers did not come immediately to mind.
It's a simple theme, featuring a FILMDIRECTOR calling "Lights... Camera... Action!" I did amuse myself when entering the revealer answer. I already had _IL____, and had figured out the theme so I put the answer in, but my fingers typed the first two letters to enter in the wrong order, so I ended up with mILfDIRECTOR. It led to some interesting visual images, and the inkling of a theme idea, but I rejected that answer as being too much for The Grey Lady.
The whole puzzle was made ten times better by having FLOTSAM right next to JETSAM. I didn't even care about the glue that had to exist in order for that to happen (I'm looking at you, ONT RTE DOR). It was worth it. And, to be honest, I didn't even look at those bits of glue until just now, because they were entered entirely by the crosses.
Otherwise, I did not like AGERS and RETAG, which made the NW corner less than exciting. In the opposite corner, UTTER did not leap to mind. And I'm going to ask why we need both the word "arty" and the word ARTSY. Do they not mean the same thing?
1A: Inn, informally (BANDB). Another reason I missed a couple of seconds. I'll give it a C- because I'm annoyed at it. My prerogative to be highly subjective in my judgements.
Fave: MOTET (61A: Sacred choral work). I'm particularly fond of Brahms' various motets (there are 7 all told).
Least fave: NOEND (51D: On and on). The clue and answer don't match, in my opinion. They are related, but different part of speech.
I hope this review seems APT. APT!
- Colum
5:42 (fast for me).
ReplyDeleteFavorite clue? Maybe PSALM just because it is a creative way to clue it (too long a clue for some tastes, no doubt). AIR also seemed like a nicely NERDY clue.
And of course FLOTSAM next to JETSAM led to a small gasp ("they didn't") and then immediately led to FJORD (before I even read the clue, probably).
5:46
ReplyDeleteWhen I think MOTET, I most often think of the Medieval and Renaissance varieties; I'll have to give the Brahms efforts a listen or two. Decent theme for a Monday. I prefer UTTER as relating to the law, but on Monday, "50D Speak" is to be expected, I guess. VIN is always welcome, but we can certainly do without the coq.
4:12
ReplyDeleteI think of Monteverdi when I think of MOTETs, so I, too, will have to look into this Brahms fellow... and I don't see "No MSG" on menus much. Does that mean I'm eating too much MSG??
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MpRt41tPoc