Chances are I’m the only person in the world to be blogging about this but as far as I’m concerned this is far more news worthy than speculation about the latest device to be released by Apple, or whatever other banal nonsense that bloggers blog about when they aspire to bring down Fox news.

Put simply - there is a website, made by an artist (and his friends) which has been locked off to the public for quite some time. A website with contains five years worth of media. And media which dare I say has a lot of artistic merit. Text, songs, audio recordings, pictures, stories…stuff that actually says something to me. Stuff that I can really connect with and that I have learnt from. Stuff that has been hidden away and is now, with no reason given suddenly more available than it ever was before.

The locked off front door has vanished to reveal what’s more like an online hard drive. A jumble sale treasure trove that I at first I couldn’t even comprehend. Who would put all of this stuff on a web server. Thankfully for me Eric Strauss is just the sort of man who would, a Renaissance man who despite his talent - and despite me actually writing to him to tell him that his website’s innards were on display - probably won’t even batter and eye lid. For unlike Podshow’s site being hacked earlier his week it’s far more likely that Strauss actually deleted the popgoeslethal index page himself - either because he didn’t like it any more or perhaps even just to amuse himself.

So as in this very special top ten list I’m going to run off the top ten things that either made me smile, made me scream with joy or made me stop and really think. I think I’ve managed to survey about 40% of the content but this should serve as a reasonable road map to those who may be come across Strauss for the first time.

I should also to point out, as something of a disclaimer - having spent three years of misery in arts institute that not only did I learn more about art from listening and reading Strauss’ work (plus actually thinking about it for myself) but that it was also something of a lifeline. Much like the work of his new publishing partner Steve Dupont, these bits of diversion served as embodiment of hope and reminders of the actual life necessity of fun, which I maintain too many people loose sight of in the REAL world.

Perhaps the best primer for this article is an interview Strauss took part in back in early 2006 for a podcast called Crankfarm. It gives a lot of insight it how Strauss’ working methods, motives and other useful information that relates to the site and his music.

1. Palm Fronds
Without doubt my favourite Mr. Strauss track from his album mr strauss learns to rock. The song is revealed to have not only a second ‘ adventure’ version (which I’d previously discovered on garageband) but also a number of alternate takes that seem to take it right back to it’s bare bones. Much like the 4 versions of Strawberry Field Forever on the Beatles’ Anthology Album, each none of them really can be considered definitive but each is successful in different ways.

(My own naming scheme is used here)

Familiar Version

Alternate Adventure version (not garageband version)

Vocal Version (Safe)

Demo Version (Dangerous)

This last one, which as a demo is technincally the first one demostrates the energy, fury and humour of what the song turns out to be. What made it stand out for me was the middle eight in which he stops singing, takes a drag from his cigarette and seems to be about to lapse into Rapping Eric before jumping straight into the final verse and seemingly not missing a beat. It’s really an absolute diamond recording.

My joy in finding these recordings was sadly undermined by a folder called palmmusicvideo which contained nothing of the sort. Even if it had it been true it would have no doubt been a disapointment for nothing could have match the images that this track brings to my head. Perhaps the only person who can make this video is me - even though in all honesty it NEEDS footage of anal penetration.

2. An Interruption

From the greatest success to the greatest failure this track has always stood out for me as something special but a version of it here proves how something so beautiful can so easily be utterly ruined.

Familiar Version

As you can hear, and as the story goes; a recording session of this beautiful song was interrupted by Corey’s girlfriend (or is it wife?). Despite this, and despite the violence that is in evidence as the interuption continued, Strauss continued with his performance knowing full well that the recording was probably runied. But when he played it back he realised that interuption itself consummated the song and renamed as such.

Having heard this track now too many times to mention I though it would be nice to hear a version that didn’t have the interruption so that I could re-evaluate it.

Un-Interuption

My God! See what I mean about ruining something so beautiful? It’s AWFUL. I like to think that this abomination was part of his voyage of discovery but much rather blame heavy drug use and sheer bloody mindedness. Even Wonder Woman gets period now and then.

3. The Ghost of Vox Monitor

An mp3 that stands on it own

I don’t know which podcast this segment of a podcast review relates to but it serves to remind me how I never really cared that much when Vox Monitor was going. All that mattered, and the reason why the Vox Monitor archive is still enjoyable to listen to now, was that Eric and Corhy really enjoyed anaysis of art and media as much as they enjoyed each others company and insights.

Hearing this brings back how much fun I had listening to it when it was just a podcast rather than something greatly missed.

4. The Bespoke Pop Goes Lethal Song Review Service.

Apparently before Vox Monitor came along the idea of recording reviews was appealing and this recording suggests that this is the moment it all started. Eric begins recording a song review whilst listening it to it on headphones. Cohry then seems to blunder in and much like ‘Interruption’ accidently makes some art by asking ‘what are you doing - listening whilst recording?’.

One can only hope that in this romanisicsed version of events a conversation later ensued in which Cohry suggested the music review service be made into a podcast. Strauss in fit what seemed like genius thought that an extra element of meta was required and thought it far more funnier to make a review podcast that reviewed podcasts themselves!