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NYT Strands puzzle for June 23 dives into the world of legendary rock music
The spangram ROCKGROUPS ties together band names in cleverly split pairs
Theme words include references to iconic groups like SMASHING PUMPKINS, TALKING HEADS, and CHEAP TRICK
It’s Monday again, and the blues are hitting pretty hard. Work is piling up, and so is the urge to take a nap. Perhaps you’re trying to put in the hours expecting rest that might never come around, or perhaps your ‘me time’ became ‘everyone else’s time.’ Whatever it is, motivation is sleeping in, and concentration is lying under the blankets.
So, before you get into meetings, messages, and ‘hope you had a restful weekend’ emails, take a beat. Strands is your approved pause button. Your brain needs a little trouble. Today’s puzzle? A heady combination of music, nostalgia, and the perfect amount of smart wordplay.
Oh yes, Today’s Strands is going old school. The theme riffs on legendary names that once blasted through boom boxes and vinyl players. It’s all about rock groups and grunge bands, the kind that filled arenas and still fill playlists.
You’re not just finding words today, you’re assembling a backstage pass to rock history.
If this is your first setlist:
Strands presents you with a 6-by-8 grid of mixed-up letters. Your task? Find the theme words; they’ll be highlighted in blue. The highlight of the game is the spangram, a single word that runs from the left side of the board to the right side, shining yellow. It captures the essence of the theme and ties the entire set together.
It’s not subtle, and it doesn’t have to be. ‘ROCKGROUPS’ is loud, proud, and perfectly in tune with today’s theme.
SMASHING – It’s not an adjective, it’s a ‘90s icon.
PUMPKINS – Still smashing after all these years.
TALKING – The brainy half of a legendary name.
HEADS – Rounding out the pair with art-rock cool.
CHEAP – The premise.
TRICK – The punchline (and the band).
Bonus track: Today’s puzzle plays pairs, band names divided into two words, so discovering one may very well point you to its companion.
This Strands is not just a puzzle, it’s a time machine with music. It’s a warning that even on the Mondays that crawl by, a few words, a few hints, and a few iconic bands can shock your brain awake. So go ahead and create a mental mixtape. Some days, the smartest thing you can do is press pause and play.
