Jay Silverman’s Wall Street Journal crossword, “Blank Spaces”—Jim P’s assessment

There’s nothing to learn BETWEEN THE LINES on this puzzle (37a, [Where hidden meanings are found, and where both sets of four horizontal black squares in the puzzle are]). Instead, that’s the place you’ll discover a “line” of black squares.

Wall St Journal crossword resolution · “Blank Spaces” · Jay Silverman · Thu., 10.6.22

• 21a. [Billboard named her “Queen of Adult Contemporary”] CELINE DION.
• 26a. [Jessica Lange was nominated for a Best Actress Oscar for playing her] PATSY CLINE.
• 45a. [Summer clothing choice] LINEN DRESS.
• 51a. [Fred Rogers trademark] KINDLINESS.

If I used to be paying consideration and making an attempt to type out the theme throughout the resolve, I most likely would’ve targeted on the truth that the primary two entries are well-known in style singers of their respective occasions. But I wasn’t, and so the revealer and its theme took me a little bit bit unexpectedly.

I’ll say that it felt a little bit underwhelming, primarily as a result of, by the clue’s personal admission, BETWEEN THE LINES is the place you discover hidden messages. But as a substitute we get nothing however black blocks. It would have made a enjoyable meta if there was truly a message in there in some way.

That stated, I actually loved the remainder of the puzzle. The lengthy fill is nice (PAKISTANIS, EYE OPENERS, PRE-MARITAL, AUTOTUNERS, MEAT STEW, IMESSAGE, and LAWMAKER) and the clues felt contemporary with out being too hung up on trivia. Some of the standard crossword suspects make an look (ALAI, CBGB, OSTEAL, HESS), however all in all it was a enjoyable resolve.

Clues of notice:

• 1a. [Conductor’s “resume speed” directive]. ATEMPO. I couldn’t have been the one one considering trains right here, may I?
• 66a. [CTA carriers]. ELS. There are the trains! (CTA being Chicago Transit Authority, by the way in which.)
• 68a. [Score]. TWENTY. An ideal Thursday clue, IMO. Simple however apparent after the very fact. This was most likely the fourth definition of the phrase that ran by in my head.
• 2nd. [Toro, e.g.]. TUNA. That’s some depraved misdirection. Your typical solver will assume “Foreign language. Spanish. BULL.” (Having that second letter as a U is serendipitous.) Nope. It’s a overseas language, all proper, however Japanese on this case. Toro is the highly-prized fatty a part of the fish. Read extra right here.
• 10d. [Kermit sipping tea, e.g.]. MEME. Usually with the punchline, “But that’s none of my business.” See extra right here.
• 40d. [Service with blue bubbles]. IMESSAGE. If the bubbles are inexperienced, you’re utilizing common previous SMS. (Sad trombone sound.)
• 47d. [Be a front runner?]. DESERT. Apt clue given Ukraine’s push to get Russian troopers to give up.
• 49d. [Rave music initials]. EDM. Hmm. The M truly stands for Music.

The theme didn’t wow me, however the remainder of the grid is high notch, particularly the lengthy fill and contemporary cluing. Four stars. Oh, and it’s a debut, so Congrats are so as!