Constructor: Seth Bisen-Hersh

Relative problem: Medium (regular Monday)

THEME: 2(BU) — theme solutions comprise two phrases, every of which accommodates the letter pairing “BU,” which provides you 2 “BU”s … all tied collectively by the revealer, “IT HAD TO BE YOU” (50A: Classic music a few soulmate … or a phonetic trace for repeated pairs of letters in 19-, 27- and 42-Across):

Theme solutions:

• TRIBUTE ALBUM (19A: The 2005 compilation “Killer Queen” is one honoring Queen)
• BUNSEN BURNER (27A: Chemistry lab gadget)
• HAMBURGER BUN (42A: Topper for a Whopper)

Word of the Day: BABKA (20D: Loaf-shaped cake) —

A babka is a candy braided bread (not a cake) which originated within the Jewish communities of Poland and Ukraine. It is common in Israel […] and within the Jewish diaspora. It is ready with a yeast-leavened dough that’s rolled out and unfold with a filling similar to chocolate, cinnamon, fruit, or cheese, then rolled up and braided earlier than baking. (wikipedia) (emph. mine)

• • •

Was slightly ho-hum on this one upon completion, however as soon as I observed that the revealer indicated not simply “BU” (“… BE YOU”) however truly the pair of “BU”S (“… TO BE YOU,” i.e. 2(BU)), I used to be gained over. Conceptually, this was on a considerably greater airplane than most Mondays. Plus the fill is whistle-clean, and sometimes even fascinating. Further, there aren’t any different stray “BU” pairs mendacity across the grid—each “BU” is concerned in a themer. This signifies a sure measure of polish and a focus to element, and offers the puzzle a sure class, even when most individuals will not actually discover it. The remedy itself wasn’t terribly thrilling, however the revealer supplied “aha,” and with no grievous fill to distract your consideration alongside the way in which, the sturdy revealer is sufficient. No actual complaints. I do have a query, although: BABKA—what’s it? I imply, is it cake or is it bread. Wikipedia insists it’s “not a cake” (see “Word of the Day,” above), and Merriam-Webster calls it “a glazed candy bread made with dried fruit (similar to raisins).” But then Google (Oxford Languages) calls it a “loaf-shaped espresso cake,” and one thing known as spoonuniversity.com says, “Babka is a dense cake, though it appears to be like slightly like a bread.” I’ll say that BABKA was the reply that held me up essentially the most. I had the “B” and will suppose solely of BUNDT. There had been extra hold-ups than regular for me on a Monday, however then the non-hold-up elements had been sub-Monday simple, so … Medium, i.e. typical-Monday simple, for me.

Other hold-ups included ABOUT US (8D: Information header on a enterprise’s web site)—simply had hassle parsing it. And then I had CLASP for CLAMP (33D: Gripping device) and couldn’t see ORCHID from the -RC- (46A: Flower that vanilla comes from) (sadly, I do not suppose I knew that about vanilla!). TRIBUTE ALBUM additionally took extra than simply the TRI- to provide itself away, which it should not have, but it surely did. I hesitated over BIG IF, too—as soon as once more, points with parsing. I actually like BIG IF (3D: It’s most unlikely to occur). Colloquial, in-the-language / present, makes a conjunction right into a noun, squeezes two phrases right into a small house—all enjoyable. That ought to be sufficient for right this moment. Hope you’re persevering with (or starting) to get pleasure from the brand new yr. See you tomorrow.