Six Inches of Sky

The latest release from Sherri Youngward is an exercise in emotion. Each cut is testimony to a woman pouring out her soul through her voice and acoustic guitar. The overall feel of the release stands somewhere between folk and modern, acoustic-driven rock. Standouts include "Nothing Compares." Here, Youngward leads a spiritual charge as a driving bass and well-placed synths provide the bedrock. On the cut "First Fire," Youngward displays the vocal prowess of Natalie Merchant. The cut is pure praise & worship with solid keyboard nuances. "This Dream of Mine" is a haunting excursion about a dream that Youngward had. The low-harmony vocals increase the effectiveness of the tune's evocative feel while chilling strings abound. What Sherri Youngward is able to accomplish on Six Inches of Sky is to take the simplest of lyrics and turn them into a grand foray of adoration. Mostly this is accomplished through emotional storytelling and a bevy of musical sweet spots.