AARON ESPE: My Whole Life

Aaron Espe

My Whole Life

© 2005 Aaron Espe (707541783729)

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(About MP3 downloads at CD Baby)

"...There's no doubt that this is some of the most gorgeous male folk you'll hear." -- Tamara Turner, CD Baby

notes

"One of the top 20 CDs we've found anywhere in the last year!"
Intelligent Pop

"Hearing his music is like the experience of not realizing how thirsty you are until you start drinking...There's no doubt that this is some of the most gorgeous male folk you'll hear."
CD Baby

"[His] music is honest and true. A real breath of fresh air in an ocean of superficiality -- with songwriting that reveals the insight of a skilled poet twice his age."
Ron Craighead, KGLT Radio, Bozeman, MT

"...A depth of lyrics and musicality of guitar playing as anyone on the circuits -- if not more so."
Chris Cunningham, Singer/Songwriter and member of the folk duo, Storyhill.


Regardless of season or venue, Aaron Espe is a constant.

Whether swaddled in the grass of a Great Plains folk fest or enveloped in the soft din of a city cafe, Aaron Espe's music summons from its listeners a resurrected depth that otherwise cowers within during the monotonous work week.

Cherry Garrard (Antarctic explorer) wrote that "It is necessary to be cut off from civilization and all that it means to realize fully the power music has to recall the past, or the depths of meaning in it to soothe the present."

In this sense attending an Aaron Espe concert is a barbaric experience. Espe's melodies effectively work to unfetter hearers from our "civilized" busyness, interjecting space to reflect, space to be human again.

Alighting upon the folk music scene two years ago from the upland wilds of Northern Minnesota, Aaron has begun to garner the attention that one might expect from a significant young talent. His recent plumes include:
- "My Whole Life" a top 20 album for 2006 (intelligentpop.com)
- Feature artist for the 2007 Volkswagen Auto Tour.
- Feature artist for the 2007 Folk Alliance, Memphis, Tennessee.
- Among the top-ranked unsigned folk artists (myspace.com)

If such a thing as the cliched "total package" exists then attending one of Aaron Espe's concerts offers attendees a hint as to what it may be. The beauty of his sound, coupled with the irresistible aura of a shy guy, stirs a desire to join the now burgeoning army of Espe's unpaid publicists. Among his recent surge of supporters is President of CD Baby (World's Largest Seller of Independent Music), Derek Sivers:

"Aaron, I love your 'My Whole Life' CD so much I'm going to feature it on the Front Page of CD baby for a few days. We get about 100 new albums sent to us a day (about 100,000 total), and yours is one of the best I've ever heard."

A few of Espe's recordings from the abovementioned "My Whole Life" were conceived in a rapid thrust of creativity (i.e. "Grace"), while most have been the result of a painfully slow breach birth of inspiration. Consequently the hearer is aware that Espe's songs are more than trite phrasings, but rather liquefied shards of an authentic soul cast generously out to those within earshot.

Without benefit of the high-powered promotion that hammers mainstream music into our consciousness, Aaron Espe's fans greedily await the release of his second album (Summer 2007) nonetheless. -- Steve Grosz

reviews

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  • My Whole Life
    author: Albert dawson

    Aaron's lyrics are so clearly written from the heart and therefore resonate so beautifully with the listener's reality. Very touching and beautiful.

  • My Whole Life
    author: Amanda

    I listen to this all the time! I'm always on the look out for the acoustic, folk sound and it's a hard search! Aaron's got it made.

  • Beautiful honest music.
    author: Alex Watson

    Found Aaron at cd baby! An amazing sounding album, the harmonies, melodys, arrangements and production are awesome!. Aaron has an amazing talent for painting pictures with his songs. Buy this album..i know i will be listening to this for the rest of my life :).

  • Down to earth
    author: Ben Bruckner

    His style is confident, yet modest and full of strong gentle words.

  • love it love it love it
    author: Kristen

    honest voice, beautiful songs, just perfect... agree strongly with dominick's review below! :) Thanks CD Baby!

  • Wonderful
    author: Ryan

    This CD is great. I can't wait for the next one to come out.

  • A Quiet Tidal Wave
    author: Jesse Butterworth

    Wow! I'm a huge fan of Teitur Lassen, and when I heard Aaron's stuff, I felt like I was listening to Teitur's long lost brother. Man, this stuff is great. Check it out! You won't regret it.

  • This CD is amazing!
    author: Rachel

    This Cd is so great. I was recommended to Aaron Espe from a friend. We are from MN so it's nice to hear homegrown talent. This CD is great from track 1 to the last track! I would highly recommend it.

  • We love "My Whole Life"!
    author: cloud nine and cloud seven

    Internet Music Radio, "Gone Fishing for Blue Skies", loves Aaron Espe. We love the whole album plus the hidden track.

  • good songs, makesa great gift
    author: Elisabeth

    My fiance' loves Aaron's music, so I bought this cd as a Valentine's Day present. He LOVES it, and won't stop raving about the music. Now I think I need to buy my own copy.

  • amazing
    author: sam dingus

    this cd is amazing, i saw him live in a basement of a house with about 10 other people, needless it say i was sold

  • captivating
    author: jenna

    I actually haven't listened to the whole album, but my friend gave me a mix CD with "Dragons" on it and I fell in love. This is now my favorite song and Aaron Espe has now gained a new fan. Well done, and please keep it up. We need more artists like this.

  • true artistry
    author: dominick

    A friend of mine has raved about this disc for some time now, so I gave it a chance. I liked it right away, and the more that I listen to it, the better it is. Aaron's songs are all different enough melodically to keep me interested, and the depth and variation of lyrical content is really quite impressive. He writes with the honesty of a man with nothing to lose and the understanding of a man who has seen many years, and he sings with earnestness. The music is soothing and gripping, reassuring and convicting, all at the same time. Buy this disc.

  • Awesome!-write more songs!
    author: rachel from ACC

    Love the songs. Relate to my life in tons of ways and God has really spoken to me through them and how they relate to my life. I encourage you to write more!

  • addicting
    author: christian

    Of all the cd's I own, I find myself playing this cd constantly. There isn't one bad song on the album. Give this cd/artist a listen, you won't be disappointed.

  • A day of reflection and change
    author: Patty

    I had a very unsteady day. Questioning my ideas on my journey of life. I decided to clear up my computer room and started checking out various artists on the computer. My thoughts and feelings started comming out of Aaron's songs. The words of his songs were comming from within me. Thank you for the realization that my thoughts and feelings are not just my own, but we all share a common bond of life's daily journeys. They are not always a straight course, but to get to our destiny of who we our and what are purpose in life is, we do share hardships, lonliness and confussion at times. Keep in mind though, we all can feel like a King or Queen for a day.

  • Amazing person who plays amazing music
    author: Jake Engler

    Aaron's music is probably the most sincere work of artistry I have heard in my entire life. Not only do I have the pleasure of hearing his music on cd, but he also came from the same town as me and he is the kindest person you could ever meet. The album is truly amazing. I love it.

  • really good!
    author: Paul

    This cd is really solid songwriting. I would compare it to Damien Rice's O.

  • Real Chill
    author: Justin LeVett

    Aaron's music is that kind of music that you just sit back and chill to. His voice is unique and liriques just flow together like they were ment to be. His music leads me to the feeling of wanting more. this is a must buy for anyone.

  • Hasn't left my cd player
    author: Sarah

    Once I listened to the first sample of this CD I knew I would love it. It hasn't left my cd player since I recieved it a month ago. A wonderful songwriter & singer.

  • Amazing cd, a must have!
    author: StatQuo

    I have the cd about a month now, and it's simply one of the best you'll find on cd baby.

  • Really lovely and addictive...
    author: Evelyn

    Pour a glass of wine. Throw another log on the fire... have a date with Aaron and his mesmerizing voice. I bought several copies of this CD for Christmas gifts and all of the recipients love him, love him.

  • WHEW! Awesome!
    author: Mimi Burns cd promoter

    WHEW! Reminds me of Del Amitri's first few albums.... great great great! What a voice, so vulenrable!

  • Very talented artist!
    author: Joshua Johnson

    Aaron's voice reminds me of a cross between "Pedro the Lion" and Dave Matthews. Good Stuff!

  • luminous!
    author: zanne

    luminious is not a word normally used about music, but in the case of this cd there's no other option. the incandescent purity and simplicity of espe's work shines, moving it beyond mere music to an intimate journey of the soul. how it can feel so complete and yet always leave me wanting more is amazing.

  • Depth, insight, good stuff.
    author: Michael

    The music was insightful, deep and showed a knowledge of himself. The lyrics showed that life was bigger than what's inside our own heads, it gave a hope and a life to the sometimes very dark times we experience. It was creative and had a great sense of balance and variety. Listening to the cd all the way through was no trouble at all because of the difference in styles, tempo and themes of each song. Well done and I'll see you in MN on the 23rd!

  • Frickin' sweet!
    author: Joey and Lanna Dueck

    Lanna (my wife) listens to this album non-stop. We put Onage on repeat more often than not when we're just needing to relax. The voice and guitar work is so melodic and tight, it just cchills us out.

  • Great CD to listen to all day
    author: Amazinglytransfixed

    Aaron's music relates to everybody day in and day out. My personal favorite is "Advice From Them". The song is so true word for word.

  • His music is as true as he is!
    author: Daniel Sesay

    His voice is unique. His talent is obvious. He chose to communicate music - yes. But he also chose to communicate about life. The pain, heartache and difficulties that life throws at us. His music is not jarring. It is truly unique.

  • great from MN to CO and all the states between
    author: Timmy J. - Denver

    this cd is a great time with a great sound, if you dont have it you should, simple and deep all at the same time. a great thing!

  • Raw Talent

    excellent singer and songwriter...He is blessed!

  • Lyrically refreshing honesty.
    author: Summer Wenger

    This album is amazingly original. It is soothing to the spirit with its honesty and it's melodies are enticing. It reflects the intensity of the beauty and pain of the human existence, with this reflection the album My Whole Life brings a new clarity to life. Brilliant!

  • just good folk music
    author: jonathon

    just good folk music. thats what this album is. aaron is to be compared to the best of today's singer songwriters. he voice is gentle and the music is tasty and well written. sets the mood for many situations throughout my day. i love this record.

  • author: Tamara Turner, CD Baby

    There's a special magic to those albums that enchant and hook you gently, quietly, stealthily, almost without your knowing. Aaron Espe's album, "My Whole Life" is just such an album. You might be going about your routine when you hit play but gradually, you'll find yourself turning away from your business to listen a bit more deeply; you'll notice a shift in your breathing, a slowing of your pulse and a need to turn up the volume and pause. As easily as the sun rises and falls, his music inhales and exhales, ebbs and flows and satisfies some mysterious, hungry need in the soul. Hearing his music is like the experience of not realizing how thirsty you are until you start drinking, and then suddenly, you feel like parched, cracking soil aching for moisture, drinking it in with a sigh, with ecstatic desperation for more. Whatever it is in his music that fulfills such an intense, concealed need, there's no doubt that this is some of the most gorgeous male folk you'll hear.

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