Blame It on My Youth

Matt Belsante | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 2, 2008)
• Original Release Date: 2008
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Green Hill
• ASIN: B001D25MMA
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #19,928 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars this new crooner means business even if he's not home free just yet, March 6, 2009

By 

Matthew G. Sherwin (last seen screaming at Amazon customer service) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Blame It on My Youth (Audio CD)

Blame It On My Youth lets Matt Belsante show off his strong ability to sing out a tune with the best of them! His voice is manly yet there's just a hint of vulnerability that may well endear him to his fans now and in the future. This young artist is just taking off for a spectacular flight; he performs very good covers of several songs on this CD. I believe in Matt Belsante; he will only get better with time and that's exciting. The quality of the sound is excellent and the artwork is thoughtfully laid out.

The album begins with one of Bobby Darin's signature songs, "Beyond The Sea." "Beyond The Sea" has a traditional big band style approach that reminds me of that 1960s Vegas sound and it holds its own very well. Matt has the ability to sing words so well that it enhances his performance and just one listen proves it! "Brazil" is a lovely tune that Matt delivers with great sensitivity; he makes this classic number really shine and he handles the tempo changes like a pro. I'm impressed; and the musical arrangement for "Brazil" is just right without stealing the show away from Matt.

"At Last" stuns me with its beauty; it's one of my favorite songs on this album. I wonder what Etta James would have to say about Matt's rendition? Etta certainly didn't appreciate it when Beyoncé performed "At Last" at an inaugural ball for the new president. Anyway, I think Matt's version of "At Last" is pretty good. In addition, "I Saw Her Standing There" rearranges a Beatles tune by giving it a big band style arrangement. The brass sparkles and Matt's voice conveys every nuance of emotion as he belts out "I Saw Her Standing There." I think Paul and Ringo would approve. "I Saw Her Standing There" is another highlight of this album.

"Blame It On My Youth," the title track for this album, gets a most elegant arrangement and that's all right by me! "Blame It On My Youth" is very pretty. "Witchcraft" isn't quite what Frank Sinatra could make of it--sorry, Matt! However, I do like "I Get A Kick Out Of You." "I Get A Kick Out Of You" has that peppy tempo and a piano arrangement that perfectly complements Matt's vocals; Matt Belsante sings this one up right and I love it!

"All In Love Is Fair" features Matt squarely front and center; it moves me deeply with its beauty even though it's not really the happiest of songs. "All In Love Is Fair" is a heartrending ballad if there ever was one; and I think Stevie Wonder would like Matt's delivery even though it's quite similar to Stevie's way of singing it. The CD ends with Matt Belsante performing "Never My Love;" "Never My Love" is beautiful and Matt does great justice to this ballad. "Never My Love" gives this album a strong ending.

Matt Belsante may not be Frank Sinatra; but I wouldn't discount him--not by a long shot. I think he has a bright future; it's just that he's getting started a bit slower than I would like. I recommend this CD for fans of Matt Belsante. People who enjoy classic pop vocals and even the newer "instant classics" will enjoy this album also.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Heat Too Intense, December 26, 2009

By 

Lee Armstrong (Winterville, NC United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Blame It on My Youth (Audio CD)

Four sax players get a hardy workout on Matt's lovely croon on the classic "At Last." There's so much punch in the arrangement and play with the vocalist that it makes this a memorable track. The swing arrangement of "I Saw Her Standing There" is pure delight from the misleading strings in the first few bars before the band blasts with Matt's great vocals making this early Beatles' hit seem totally at home transplanted to jazz. "Witchcraft" also unfolds delightfully with Belsante playing with the romantic lyric, "I've got no defense for it; The heat is too intense for it; What good would common sense for it do?" "Haven't Got Much" is the lone track penned by Belsante and fits well with the classic songs. "Never My Love" is a lovely song that I've been playing recently; so Matt's version is welcome albeit the slow tempo seems to sap some of the energy of other versions like the Association's hit. Other tracks like "Beyond the Sea" & "I Get a Kick Out of You" are also gems. This is a strong freshman outing. Enjoy!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb, June 12, 2010

By 

barry (Boston, MA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Blame It on My Youth (Audio CD)

This cd is exquisite and a superb vocal display for the pure artistry of Matt Belsante. This is an artist who needs to be heard and this independant label release needs a huge release. There are many artists recording standards today. If you did have to categorize Matt it would probably be with the music of Michael Buble. But we have something even more different and unique here. Matt Belsante is very young still, only in his mid 20s, yet his vocals put across a maturity and depth of feeling one would expect from someone decades older. Here we have a superb collection of classics from many genres including jazz, calypso and pop. Matt possesses a masculinity with his vocals mixed with a tender vulnerability. The confidence with which he tackles these strong and diverse numbers is ultra impressive.

We begin with the standard BEYOND THE SEA which he performs perfectly but it is with the next track BRAZIL that Matt takes full control and from then on puts his own individual stamp on each song. BRAZIL is a sexy, calypso treat. He then tackles AT LAST and conquers it. A WHITER SHADE OF PALE is from such a different genre but his heart wrenching performance makes it all flow effortlessly. BLAME IT ON MY YOUTH, WITCHCRAFT and I GET A KICK OUT OF YOU are classic standards which he makes fresh and new. I SAW HER STANDING THERE is a great uptempo track while ALL IN LOVE IS FAIR possesses yet more of Matt's sensitive vulnerability with pure crystal vocals. And meeting all these standards with equal class is his self penned HAVEN'T GOT MUCH.

I am so grateful I discovered this artist and want more. This is a young artist with such potential and pure raw talent. His love of music shines through and he has such range, personality and emotive ability. This is a great singer and I can't recommend this cd enough.