99 Cents a Clue

by Mike Selinker and Dan Katz
Answer: MEDS

In this cryptic, part of each clue is replaced by the name of a song, in brackets below. Reading down the shaded squares spells PLACEBO LP FIVE, or MEDS.

ACROSS
1. MORTALITY (trial to + my) ["In My Life" by The Beatles]
6. SHEEP (she + EP) ["I Will Follow" by U2]
9. CANER (cover – ove + a + ne) ["Owner Of A Lonely Heart" by Yes]
10. EXAMINERS (axe + miner's) ["Fire" by The Jimi Hendrix Experience]
11. EMANATION (I Got a Name - go + on) ["I Got A Name" by Jim Croce]
12. ISSUE (si + Sue) ["Runaround Sue" by Dion]
13. EVOCABLE (cab + Love + E) ["Endless Love" by Lionel Richie and Diana Ross]
15. VELOUR (el + V + our) ["Train In Vain" by The Clash]
18. HIGHLY ("hi Lee") ["Elevation" by U2]
19. BOLSTERS (Lobster's) {"Rock Lobster" by The B-52's]
22. RHOMB (R + h + bomb – b) ["Cherry Bomb" by John Cougar Mellencamp]
24. STIRRED UP (Ed + stirrup) ["Wild Horses" by The Rolling Stones]
26. ENFORCING (c + Inferno + G) ["Disco Inferno" by The Trammps]
27. NOISE (No + I See – e) ["I See Sound" by Moth]
28. STRAY (strategy – Get) ["Get Back" by The Beatles]
29. RAN TO SEED (resonated) ["Shake, Rattle & Roll" by Bill Haley & His Comets]
DOWN
1. MACHETE (cheat + me) ["Crash Into Me" by The Dave Matthews Band]
2. RUNS ALONG (rung + salon) ["Jingle Bells" by Alvin and the Chipmunks]
3. AORTA (A + O + art) ["A Love Bizarre" by Sheila E.]
4. INEDIBLE (in + I Bleed) ["I Bleed" by The Pixies]
5. YEARNS (Yeah – h + RN's) ["Yeah" by Usher]
6. SLIMINESS ("sly mean S") ["Cruel Summer" by Bananarama]
7. EXECS (Sex + EC) ["Sex Changes" by The Dresden Dolls]
8. PASTEUR (pa's + true) ["Milk" by Garbage]
14. AT LIBERTY (ATL + I + Bert + Y) ["Footloose" by Kenny Loggins]
16. OVERDRIVE (River Devo) ["River" by Joni Mitchell]
17. ROPING IN (pin + Ringo) ["It's Tricky" by Run-DMC]
18. HERDERS (e + rd. + hers) ["End of the Road" by Boyz II Men]
20. SAPHEAD (a hep + sad) ["Tangled Up In Blue" by Bob Dylan]
21. ESPIER (E + s + pier) ["(Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay" by Otis Redding]
23. OFFER (ref of) ["Psycho Killer" by Talking Heads]
25. RINGO (Rain + go – a, & lit.) ["Rain" by The Beatles]