Reviewed by Mike Rimmer

This is Sherri's second album and it continues the journey of establishing her as a poetic songwriter in the tradition of a Carole King, Joni Mitchell, Amy Mann or Sheryl Crowe. What we have is the old-fashioned (!) notion that the lyrics of a song are important and have much to say. Sherri passionately cares about the words she sings and these songs are word paintings, stories and pleas from the heart but they are never too obscure for the listener to understand the point! "She Looks To The Sky" is the intriguing story of a woman with a mysterious lover and as the song unfolds, it's obvious the lover is Jesus. Many of the songs are built around Sherri's acoustic guitar with a variety of atmospheres and instruments added to give the album a mesmerising quality. Mixing pop, rock, acoustic, roots and even the occasional country influence, this is a tough album to put into a musical box. "Jesus Saw Her" tells of the relentless love which God has for a damaged woman, weighed down by life's struggles. "Meant For You" unlocks the dreams that are beyond our belief and examines how it's possible to allow ourselves to be shortchanged when it comes to God's love. Sherri's skill is crafting songs that communicate faith and passion for God without sounding like religious songs. It's not that she's ashamed or these songs are coded, it's simply that Youngward has a skill in telling truths but giving them a whole new texture. If you enjoy adult singer/songwriters with something to say, great melodies and top sounds, you will fall in love with this.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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