Someone here recommended this album a few years back, and like just about everyone else, my reaction was “What? Shatner can sing?” Of course he can't, but what he lacks in vocal talent he makes up for with humour, experienced eyes looking back wryly at his past, and even a peek into a personal tragedy. The music is provided mostly by Ben Folds, who also co-writes most of the album with him, and it has to be said, Shatner's delivery on some of the songs - “That's Me Trying”, “It Hasn't Happened Yet”, and the hilariously raucous “I Can't Get Behind That”, on which he partners with Henry Rollins – is nothing short of magical. I personally love his version of “Common People” more than the original, but of course there are dud tracks. I don't like “Together” or “Ideal Woman”, where the Captain seems to be just relaxing in his easy chair, looking at all his awards and saying “Look at what I got! Ain't you jealous?” But as I say, there are personal insights, and “What Have You Done”, which chronicles in painful detail the suicide of his wife, is chilling and moving.
It's not a perfect album – far from it – and it still deserves a lot of the derision it has attracted. But hell, it isn't half as bad as I had expected, and anyway, when it comes right down to it, the Shatman is just having fun here. He knows he's never going to be a musical star, nor I think does he wish to be. After all, he's gone Where No Man Has Gone Before, so who is he to be covetous of the success of others? But if he can poke a little gentle fun at both the music industry and himself (as Amy Grant once pointed out, when you point your finger cos your plan fell through, you got four more fingers pointing back at you) then more power to him.
Now, just where the hell is that damn override button?
9/10
If not exactly unassailable, certainly very enterprising!
