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William Shatner is a creative force of nature, incapable of being contained by a single medium. He's made an indelible impression on many of the fine
arts: dramatic television, film, literature (he has written several science fiction best sellers), and advertising.
But nowhere is Shatner more Shatner-ific than in the realm of music. His 1968 album "The Transformed Man" was a quantum leap forward for celebrity albums, the "Revolver" of its genre. It was a spoken word suite interpreting the work of the era's bards, most notably Dylan and Lennon/McCartney. If you have heard his scream at the end of "Mr. Tambourine Man," you know it is a memory that no amount of booze or painkillers can erase. (Trust me, I know.)
Like all great artists, Shatner waited to record a follow-up until he had something to say. 35 years later, our prayers have been answered with the release of "Has Been," a stunning collaboration with indie rocker Ben Folds on the new Shout!Factory label.
As producer and arranger, Ben Folds makes a perfect guiding force, a musical Scotty, if you will. He is a classicist in the mold of "Honky Chateau"-era Elton John, but with a twist. After all, he named his three-piece band the Ben Folds Five and made an album called "The Unauthorized Biography of Reinhold Messner." He thus infuses "Has Been" with just the right mix of melody and musical flourish, whilst letting Shatner be Shatner.
This is clear about two seconds into the first track, a cover of Brit-pop band Pulp's "Common People." It immediately calls to mind Kim Wilde's 80s classic "Kids in America." (In a good way.) It's a rocking tune with a driving beat, and a great vocal contribution by Joe Jackson, anchored by the signature Shatner delivery. It's sure to appear on mix CDs by music geeks everywhere.
Other guests include "High Fidelity" author Nick Hornby, who pens the lyrics to "That's Me Trying." about a father trying to make up for decades of lost time with his estranged daughter. It combines Hornby's eye for telling detail, Folds' melodicism and Shatner's spoken words into a scintillatingly unique, surprisingly touching musical bouillabaisse.
In the gospel infused "You'll Have Time" Shatner tells us to make the most of life, lest we have regrets:
Now maybe you won't suffer, maybe it's quick
But you'll have time to think
Why did I waste it?
Why didn't I taste it?
You'll have time
Because you're gonna die
From this moment forward, any life that doesn't include a new copy of
Bill
Shatner's "Has Been" would have to be judged an utter, miserable failure. "Has Been?" I find that? highly illogical.
review by Steve Walsh
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©
Figgle 2001-2007