Instructions: Guess the words defined by the cryptic clues (answers vary in length from three to eight letters and seven are capitalized) then enter them in the grid one after another in the same order as their clues, starting in the upper left corner. Across words that don't end at the right continue on the next row, and down words that don't end at the bottom continue in the next column. Six across words and six down words won't fit in the grid unless one of their letters is removed. Those twelve letters, taken in order as they occur in across and down words, spell a three-word phrase related to the mystery entry and the title of the puzzle. Thanks to Kevin Wald for test-solving and editing this puzzle. If you are having trouble printing these puzzles, you can download an Adobe Acrobat version of the puzzle and grid. [Want to see some hints?]

1. Bloody steep tempo for musical group
2. Gail swimming in Arizona river
3. Hits lacking true stars
4. Quixotically aspire to acclaim
5. Left bedtime as an obligation
6. Determined components of crated junk
7. Running polar route gives room
8. Bar free movement
9. Composure of a place mob battered
10. Dish incorporating a sense of taste
11. Rodent found in German kitchen utensil
12. Mystery entry
13. Plain about one's being persevering
14. Translation of Reno's language
15. Fogs disabled ten cars
16. Coward in canoe languishes
17. Walk or run a step without power bursts
18. Center of the year
19. Contest takes time for child to evaluate
20. A clasp yielding an amount of pressure
21. Drag drill
22. Effective island turnaround
23. Hugo's carefully holding cichlid fish
24. Miami's not the same after losing one prayer leader

1. Supreme limbus shifted east
2. Contraption restraining carriage
3. Crooked old box
4. Naughty bairn's name
5. Regal psalm about mountain chain
6. Scrap men involved in illegal graft
7. Prepared odd bits of spelt
8. Care plan worked out in conversation
9. Croce upset over error in blackjack
10. Change noose after removing head
11. Stir, act up, and eat on the run
12. Moving in: let's provide cheap decoration
13. Premium silver satellite
14. Swatted one fly, which is a crime
15. Japanese band orbits wildly, timelessly
16. New gear in vogue
17. Wander over aimlessly
18. Nothing idle repaired or lubricated
19. Writing of power and color
20. Fleet Adam ran freely without pain at the end
21. A pell trimmed for collar part
22. Kid starting to rest
23. Excited otter restraining a wheel
24. Same ugly scar