Trevor Boehm & the Cultivators

When the Ground Gives Way

Trevor Boehm’s debut begins with a raw fiddle and passionate gospel blues of “Obey the Rain,” a torrent of promise that unfortunately doesn’t follow through on the rest of the LP. The immediate shift to the acoustic pop lilt of “Heart of the Broken” undercuts the power of the opener, and Boehm never quite regains solid footing. At its best, When the Ground Gives Way echoes the charm of locals Clay Nightingale and Danny Malone (“Love Song of the Southern Cross,” “Keep On”) but tends to too easily tip over into trite, Eddie From Ohio-esque folk jams (“Roots,” “Colorblind Blues”). The nearly seven-minute “As the Water Reaches Our Necks” bobs in a sea of slowly crescendoing sincerity that becomes detrimentally exhaustive, and “Waiting (Running)” seems a gratuitous, one-line riffing filler. Haphazard closer “I Am Yours” returns some easy affability, but Boehm could benefit from a more clearly defined direction.

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This article appears in May 7 • 2010.

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Doug Freeman has been writing for the Austin Chronicle since 2007, covering the arts and music scene in the city. He is originally from Virginia and earned his Masters Degree from the University of Texas. He is also co-editor of The Austin Chronicle Music Anthology, published by UT Press.