"Are you talking to me?"

If I were making a top five albums of all time list, I think William Shatner's Has Been from 2007 would be on it.

There are too many great moments on this album to enumerate. My absolute favorite "song" (Shatner doesn't sing, he recites, but the music is exquisite) is "That's Me Trying," which is written by Nick Hornby, with music by Ben Folds. The song is about a man trying to reconnect with his daughter after years apart.

After years of self-analysis, I've concluded that a large part of what makes me a Shatner fan is that he reminds me of my Dad. He's about the same age as my Dad, and they have other things in common, including thinning hair, thickening other parts, and a good sense of humor. In my imagination, the story Shatner tells in "That's Me Trying" is a story that could be about my Dad. It's not that bad, but there are parallels. And he's trying.

Other highlights on the album include "Together," a psychedelic tour de force with minimalist lyrics, and a cover of Pulp's "Common People," which sounds even more militant when recited by Shatner and sung by guest vocalist Joe Jackson.

Producer Ben Folds brings his melodic mastery to all the songs, making this a beautiful collaboration that I only wish could be rekindled. As it is, this is the penultimate moment of Shatner's stellar career. And yes, I know what "penultimate" means: It's a great moment just before he's done.