Many of us have heard her sing and play on summer nights at the Swannanoa Gathering but now we finally get to take Blue's music home with us! This CD not only reflects the sweet spirit of this lady, but her songwriting and and guitar playing are superb! Such a refreshing mix of songs! Thanks Blue, for this beautiful diversion while working in my shop!!
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Blue's album makes you want to "Choose the Sky!" Her instrumentals leave delicious space between the notes for breathing,  and the lyrics bring a pensive pause and contentment to the listener.  "The Mystery Song" and "Lullaby for Japan" kick start the imagination.  Here's hoping Blue will "Let the Music Come" for a long time.
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Blue O’Connell has a unique musical signature in both her writing and performing that makes this recording refreshingly individual.   It’s appropriate that she works as a Certified Music Practitioner, because her music is soothing, healing, soulful, and contemplative.

It’s hard to pick a favorite track.  I highly recommend "Invocation of the Mystery Guest."  “Let the Music Come” is an evocative exploration of the nature of artistic inspiration.  Having “Owl’s Dream” playing on my car stereo was entirely responsible, almost without my realizing it, for keeping me calm and centered at a particularly hazardous moment during a recent morning commute!

This recording clearly comes straight from the artist’s heart, and will touch the listener’s.
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I listened to Renee "Blue" O'Connell's new CD today. The name is "Choose the Sky." This CD is among the most profoundly moving CD’s of modern singer-songwriters that I’ve ever experienced. I started listening to it as I pulled into the parking lot at CVS, and after a short while I completely forgot why I had stopped at CVS! 
 
Blue has been on a journey, with a major hearing challenge and then a cochlear implant. Her songs "Once I Was the Wind" and "Transcriptions" were recorded before her surgery. She was concerned about her enunciation in those songs, but kept them on the CD as milestones in her journey. I am happy she did! They are deeply moving.
 
Her challenges not only don’t detract from her music, but instead give an additional dimension. I was fascinated by several things. One is how far back her influences go-- more than 20 years ago. Clearly, she had stored up deep things, and the cochlear implant contributed to giving her an outlet for expressing those. Also, her music is suffused with spiritual questions and explorations, and mystery. 
 
I’m not surprised that she doesn't have a lot of songs about the “disability experience" -- her term. She simply doesn’t live there. She is primarily about other things, yet her song “To Belong”-- about the complex matter of having a disability -- is wonderful. Other favorites of mine are “How Will I Know,” “Lullaby for Japan,” and, as mentioned, “Once I Was the Wind.”
 
Blue's guitar-playing is evocative, too, and her songs and vocal phrasing are distinctive and compelling.
 
Strongly recommended.
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