Tag: space

Once in a lifetime, the planets align and we are left with a cosmic event that rocks the foundation of what we – the human race call music. The man, the myth, the legend, the captain, the Shat is back. From 1978 when William Shatner hosted “The Science Fiction Film Awards” the world was then introduced to the Captain’s unique recipe of blending his Shakespearean acting with modern day pop music in his interpretation of Elton John’s “Rocket Man.” Now “Rocket Man” is featured along with other space themed classics on Shatner’s new double album Seeking Major Tom. Beginning with actual NASA sounds before going into a dramatic interpretation of Peter Schilling’s new wave song “Major Tom,” the album is Shatner at warp-speed tearing though classics like David Bowie’s “Space Oddity,” and boldly going where no crooner has gone before with a cover of Hawkwind’s “Sliver Machine” with the MC5’s Wayne Kramer on guitar.
There are other guests who join the Shat on a tune or two including Bootsy Collins on a funky “She Blinded Me With Science.” Highlights include the epic version of “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “Space Truckin’” by Deep Purple where Shatner finds the right mix of rock ’n’ lounge, along with the ballad “Mrs. Major Tom,” a touching tribute for Shatner’s late wife sung by Sheryl Crow. Overall the double album seems a bit daunting and overarching. Is there such a thing as too much Shat? I don’t know? Many of the songs seem to get lost between the epic production work, special effect pieces, repeat sound clips of previous songs and cameos that may be too mainstream – I’m talking about you, Brad Paisley. It may be too much to sift though in one sitting, but at the ripe age of 80 Shatner seems to be pulling out all the stops as he journeys toward the great beyond. Showing no signs of slowing down, he’s currently in the midst of a cross-country tour with a new book and this epic album. (Cleopatra, www.williamshatner.com) Kent Davies