Sherri Gough's "Acoustic Project" is a collection of songs that will take you from wanting to get up and dance, to pondering questions about life. It's diverse style has something everyone can relate to, and the unique acoustic format allows the true emotion in her vocals to shine through. With songs as commercial as Taylor Swift and as tender as Sarah McLachlan, she indeed captures a unique sound. The combination of songs on the CD is very diverse as well, making it something everyone can relate to. Some of the vast topics include: trying to understanding your significant other, cheating, getting stronger, living life to the fullest, understanding others in the world, losing someone you love, overcoming fear and daring to be yourself, putting away your pride to ask for help, recognizing unseen emotions, and looking back on life and realizing there was a plan even though it may have caused you pain. Sherri is a writer on every song on the CD, so her heart comes out in every line. With the simple instrumentation of acoustic guitar, piano, percussion and an occasional classical guitar or mandolin, everything sounds very intimate and close. Background vocals are abundant, and can be heard blending with the instruments in a way that a full-band CD can't capture. It was important to Sherri to make her debut CD an acoustic one. Because she's not only an artist but a songwriter, producer, and vocal arranger, Sherri had the vision to create a project where the essence of the song could come out in a perfect blend between instruments and vocals. Often, when dealing with full-band production, the vocals become secondary to the instrumentation. Because so much of Sherri's material has intricate background vocal parts and counter-melodies, she relied on a simple acoustic arrangement to capture every bit of every instrument and every vocal blending in perfect balance. Song Specifics "My Baby's Blues" is a fun, sing-along, blues-infused song that describes not knowing what to do when someone says something but acts totally contradictory to their words. The catchy acoustic-guitar-based rhythms and cajon (box drum) will have you tapping your feet in no time, and singing "My Baby's Blues...My Baby's Blues" in your sleep. "Ride Hard" is an upbeat, catchy, "na-na" song that encourages and inspires. It's a look at how going "off-road" in life is the way to pursuing your dreams, even though it might be harder than following everyone else on the easy road. You are truly living life to the fullest if you "ride hard" and take the roads that are calling your name. "Get Back To Me" is a rhythmic uptempo pop cheating song with attitude. The girl-done-wrong leaves and becomes independent and strong when she finds out about her man. A true female-empowerment song. "Real" is a song that simply encourages everyone to put their fears behind them and dare to be themselves. Do what you feel in your heart, and even if no one "gets it" you still know you have lived what's inside of you with no apologies for who you really are. "Lifeline" is a jammin' rock-based song that examines friendships and the struggle to put aside your pride and accept help from someone. We all eventually need to let down our guard and call on someone to be our lifeline. Especially when we're in a situation where we can't help ourselves. It's OK to ask for help. Really. "What Nobody Sees" is a touching and compelling song that will make you think. Everyone has areas of their life and feelings that are not visible to others, but sometimes those core elements are more important than what's on the outside. "Take Away The Blinds" is an anthem that talks about how peace begins with understanding each other. If we all could take the blinds from our eyes and truly understand someone else's life, maybe we wouldn't be so quick to judge. "I Got To Love You" is a semi-haunting yet hopeful piano-based ballad about losing someone you love, but being so lucky to have loved them in the first place. This song has been dubbed "The Rascal Flatts piano ballad" because every time Sherri plays it at a writer's night, someone almost always comes up to her and says "that would be the perfect song for Rascal Flatts! Sounds just like them!" Of course, Sherri agrees. Now if someone could only convince Gary, Jay and Joe Don. :-) "When It Decides To Fly" is a tender, emotional look at being in a relationship you know is about to end, yet realizing that when that person walks away you will still have the memories of love. Could also apply to a child leaving home and a parent being left with memories of them growing up. "Look At Me Now" is a simple piano/vocal that explains life from the recovering end of a crisis or a hard time in life. Looking back on life, we often realize that there was a plan to the pain we experienced, even if it was just to make us stronger. Sherri's CD will take you on a journey of life and love and loss and getting stronger. All with songs that inspire and motivate in a fun, meaningful way. And the intimate acoustic format allows all the emotion to come through so you can truly feel the songs, not just hear them.