NYT Crossword 10/08/17 (Sun.)

Cruciverbalist: Erik Agard and Alex Brinas
Editor: Will Shortz

Solving time: 21:54

Puzzle uniqueness: "Power Ballads"

Superheroes' favorite bands/singers in a joking manner. Example: Clue - "Aquaman's favorite singer?" Answer - BILLYOCEAN

Words I hadn't known until now: 0

Trivia I didn't know:

ALLA - "Penne ___vodka"
NAY - "Not only that but also" (WTF?)
ELTON - "_____ Brand, two-time N.B.A. All-Star"
PONCE - "Puerto Rican city that shares its name with an explorer"
TETRAD - "Covalent bonds of a carbon atom, e.g."

Junk Answers: A lot. Here are a few:

TSA - "Agcy. for Kennedy and Reagan" (Though a clever clue)
GPS - "Provider of directions, for short"
OOH - 'Intriguing!'"
GRR - "Canine warning"
SEI - "Number between cinque and sette"
YESM - "Quaint agreement"
DOI - "Response to 'You have something on your face,' maybe"

Clever clues: 

ASIDE - "Tangent line?"
ALLEGEDLY - "[Legally covering our butts here]"
TWOMAN - "Like some saws and bobsleds"
COINTOSS - "Several quarter turns?"

Obscure (i.e., really reaching) words: 0