Harry David and the Plant Pots has released his debut album, For Your Pleasure, and it really was a pleasure to listen to it. Released on 11th August 2023, it features songs from his previous releases, along with five shining new examples of musical mania and lyrical satire.
The album opens with I Won’t Sell My Soul (But I’ll Sell My Ex-lovers), depicting bargaining with the devil for fame and fortune, the voice of satan being demonstrated by a well executed metal scream. The album then moves to the well known Sarah, previously released in December 2021.
The next few songs, while offering nothing new to Harry David’s repertoire, appear to show a chronological account of failed love quests. Deep emotional heartache coupled with varied musical complexity and lyrical comedy appear to show his very dark humour towards his personal failed love life.
The next new material is found with Relax, which as the song suggests, is a relaxing conclusion to the first half of the album. Five minutes of acoustic guitar and campfire themes gives the warm feeling of being with friends on a hot summer evening, chilling with a few beverages.
This song paves the way for the second half of the album, made up of predominantly new material. In typical Harry David fashion, they all have their own fun and satire, tackling issues from being personally unsuccessful with love, to his personal take of others successes with love, to his own lack of success with love. Each song has its playful theme and ranges in musical complexity.
A personal favourite comes with the tenth song, Dirty, Naughty, Saucy Woman. An incredibly catchy chorus, and very upbeat, fast paced tune, you’ll find yourself humming the chorus long after listening to the song. The guitar licks and solo add to the sense of urgency that Harry David perfectly displays leaves one in no doubt that this really could be an instant classic of a song.
The album finishes near enough where it started, with Beggars Can’t be Choosers, also released in December 2021. It rounds the album off nicely, leaving no one in any doubt that Harry David and the Plant Pots accepts his shortcomings with a dry sense of humour and well timed whit.
For Your Pleasure is incredibly musically varied, with elements of a range of classical influences and classic rock. The audience are certainly left wondering whether his lyrics are purely character based or whether they were inspired by some personal experience. It’s been a long time since an album this musically exploitative has been released and it has definitely come at the right time.
DEAD CAVEMAN 