William Shatner- Has Been (2004)
Best Tracks: Common People, That’s Me Trying, Has Been
Weakest Tracks: What Have You Done, Together
I think I have to compare this to his Transformed Man which you’ll be hearing about in my top twenty-five project relatively soon. Needless to say, this album is a bit better, mainly because Shatner has learned not to take himself so seriously. He does have a lot of support from producer Ben Folds to Joe Jackson of all people. Common People is, of course, his stab at parody, but the other tracks, mostly written by Shatner or Folds, are a surprisingly good combination of poetry and solid musical arrangements. It certainly isn’t going to be listed among the greatest albums ever, but it is surprisingly earnest. Shatner is clearly having fun here and it shows on the album.
Now if only Spock could have helped out
7/10 (the Word has spoken
)