This week my writerly paw prints were in a few different corners of Spectrum Culture. First, I had a music review of a new reunion album, which I openly acknowledged that I was selecting because I’m one of the older guys on the staff. I usually approach such releases with a hearty dose of skepticism, although I’ve been pleasantly surprised in the past. Not this time around, as my honest assessment was fairly dire, an especially unpleasant scenario given that the band in question has at least one true classic to their credit.

On the film side, I reviewed the new documentary from Kirby Dick, a director that I’ve had some reservations about in the past. That’s not the case this time out, as his The Invisible War, about the pervasiveness of sexual assault in the U.S. military and the poor response within the institution, is exceptional and uncomfortably illuminating. I’d wager that this is this year’s Academy Award winner for Best Documentary, and it probably deserves it. I’ll undoubtedly have it somewhere on my ten best list at the end of the year.

Finally, I chipping in on our Monthly Mixtape feature, writing about the closing track from the outstanding new Fiona Apple album, not the last time I’ll be writing about that particular release. I’ve got another assignment involving that which is due tomorrow. But that’s for next week’s Spectrum Check.