Michael Been
On the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (Qwest) (STAR)(STAR)(STAR) 1/2
Michael Been, singer and guitarist of The Call, a now-folded Midwestern-rooted L.A. band that made some ripples in the alternative scene of the mid-’80s, has taken some time to fire up his solo career. With his debut album, “On the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown,” the former UIC student stokes the flames of a raging musical conflagration-one of soaring guitars and solid rock riffing. The record is a stellar exercise in catharsis, and recalls Bob Mould’s dark “Workbook” LP. Raw emotion boils over in an expression of both self-doubt and self-discovery. “Us” is a standard, if hard-headed, love song that begins the record. Another in that vein, “Nearly Fell,” is the finest in a strong collection that includes a cover of the Yardbirds’ “For Your Love.” Ex-Call guitarist Tom Ferrier also is heard from, but it’s primarily a Been effort.
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